Management of foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree in adults: a 10-year experience.

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience of foreign bodies in the tracheobronchial tree in adults.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Teaching hospital, Athens.

SUBJECTS: 25 patients referred to the department of thoracic surgery for treatment.

INTERVENTIONS: Bronchoscopic extraction in 16, thoracotomy with bronchotomy in 5, and resection in 4.

RESULTS

No major complications and no deaths.

CONCLUSION

Bronchoscopic extraction is usually possible, but thoracotomy and bronchotomy or resection may be necessary.