A Retrospective Analysis on Anesthetic Management during Rigid Bronchoscopy in Children with Foreign Body Aspiration: Propofol and Sevoflurane with Controlled Ventilation

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopic removal of foreign body in the airway is one of the important life-saving procedure and demands skill and expertise on the part of the surgeon and anesthesiologist. AIM: To study the outcome of controlled ventilation during rigid bronchoscopy in children with foreign body aspiration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of fifty cases of foreign body in the bronchi, from January 2014 to December 2015 was undertaken in Vittal Institute of Child Care Hospital, Dharwad, through patient case records. Patients between 6 months and 14 years were included in the study. Cases of foreign body in the larynx and trachea were excluded. Patients were induced with propofol and maintained on sevoflurane. The parameters observed were bronchoscopy attempts, succinylcholine requirement, episodes of laryngospasm, cough, bronchospasm and spontaneous recovery. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test using software OpenEpi version 7.3. RESULTS: Of 45 patients with organic foreign body, 42 (94%) patients required one attempt of bronchoscopy and 3 (6%) patients required two attempts. Five (100%) patients with inorganic foreign body required single attempt (P = 0.66). Forty-three (96%) patients with organic foreign body required two repeat doses of succinylcholine and 2 (4%) patients required three repeat doses. All 5 (100%) patients with inorganic foreign body required two repeat doses (P = 0.7461). Two (4%) patients aspirated with organic foreign body had laryngospasm, and there was no cough or bronchospasm with either patient. Two (4%) patients with organic foreign body required tracheostomy. Inorganic foreign body group of patients had lesser complications. CONCLUSION: In our study, patients on controlled ventilation had few intraoperative complication and smooth early recovery. Controlled ventilation with relaxation should be preferred for any pediatric bronchoscopies. Eliciting history of type of foreign body helps in planning and management of procedure.