Fatal aspiration of foreign bodies in infants and children.

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency, circumstances, demographics and autopsy findings of infants and children dying as a result of foreign body aspiration.

METHODS

Retrospective review of autopsy cases in children aged between seven days and 18 years, at one specialist centre over a 16-year period, in which death was the result of aspiration of a foreign body.

RESULTS

Ten cases were identified out of a total autopsy population of 2165. Only one individual had an underlying diagnosis potentially contributing to aspiration. All but one case involved aspiration of food, with grapes being a feature of four cases. In cases with a prolonged survival interval, autopsy demonstrated bronchopneumonia and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. In the remaining cases autopsy findings were non-specific.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatal aspiration of a foreign body is rare in this population. The cases involve normal children who aspirate food, particularly grapes. There are typically minimal, non-specific findings at autopsy.