[Foreign body aspiration in children].

The aim to this study is evaluate the history, symptoms, radiographic and endoscopic findings in 420 children who were admitted for suspected foreign body aspiration in our hospital between 1972 and 2005. In 13 children we didn't find foreign body and in 16 children the foreign bodies were lodged in larynx. The mean age was 33 months. The medical history, phisical exploration, auscultation and radiological findings were positive in 91,4%, 78,3%, 91,6% and 81%. The frecuency or foreign body aspiration is undervaluate and sometimes is excluded as diagnosis. Only 218 (51,9%) patients went to the hospital in the first 24 hours, although 87,8% of patients presented symptoms and 75,4% presented severe symptoms. Moreover the removed foreign bodies and suspected foreign bodies are the same in 82,95%. We think that bronchoscopy should by performed in all children who have had a choking episode.