Resumen

ROMERO, Mario; ALONSO, Bernardo  y  GONZALEZ, Luis. Foreign body aspiration: presentation and complications. Study of four cases. Arch. Pediatr. Urug. [online]. 2015, vol.86, n.3, pp.187-191. ISSN 1688-1249.

The foreign body aspiration event is caused by an external agent, this form of injury can be avoided by preventive measures. The episodes of aspiration may go unnoticed causing injury to distal areas of the bronchial tree, manifesting the presence of complications in the evolution. This article presents four clinical cases that raised diagnostic difficulties and complications in its evolution. These cases have similarities with the international literature regarding their epidemiological characteristics:  prevalence in children under 3 years, male, in festive days, peanuts being the most common foreign body and there being a delay in diagnosis in most cases. Diagnosis must take into account the history of choking or coughing respiratory distress in a previously asymptomatic child who was playing or eating. The physical and radiological examination may be normal after the episode of suffocation has passed, so a high index of suspicion is necessary for diagnosis. Upon suspicion of foreign body aspiration event, a rigid bronchoscopy should be performed, since this is the best diagnostic and therapeutic method. Also,   in patients with persistent or recurrent pneumonia lesions without other cause, mainly this diagnosis should be considered, if associated with other lesions such as atelectasis and episodes of bronchial obstruction.

Palabras clave : RESPIRATORY ASPIRATION; FOREIGN BODIES; BRONCHOSCOPY; PRESCHOOL CHILD.

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