Evaluation of the safety and efficacy for the technique of removing VFB from the bronchial tree in infants and early childhood using Fogarty balloon catheter.

Fogarty balloon catheter를 이용한 영유아 기관지 식물성 이물 제거술의 의의

Background and Objectives： Vegetable Foreign bodies (VFB) in the bronchial tree may be complicated by fragmentation, slippage and impaction during the removal with forceps. This study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy for the technique of removing VFB from the bronchial tree in infants and early childhood using Fogarty balloon catheter. Materials and methods : The subjects consisted of 18 infants and early childhood (7-22 months old) with VFB in the bronchial tree from January 1991 through October 1998. The authors first attempted removal of VFB with forceps and if that failed, removed VFB with Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter under the ventilating bronchoscopy and general anesthesia. Results: We removed 6 VFB with forceps. could not remove anymore, and so removed 12 VFB with Fogarty catheter. In 8 VFB of less than 24 hours, we could remove 6 VFB with forceps and 2 VFB which could not be removed with forceps were removed with Fogarty catheter. In 10 VFB of more than 24 hours, we could not remove with forceps and removed with Fogarty catheter. Conclusions : VFB in the bronchial tree of infants and early childhood can usually be removed with forceps. But we think that Fogarty balloon catheter technique is a easy, safe method for the removal of bronchial VFB of more than 24 hours, fragmentation, impaction, lower bronchus and too round or slippery to remove with forceps in infants and early childhood.