Risk factors associated with reintubations in children undergoing foreign body removal using flexible bronchoscopy: a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Reintubation is a severe complication during foreign body (FB) removal that uses flexible bronchoscopy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and risk factors for reintubations in children undergoing FB extraction by flexible bronchoscopy in a single center. DESIGN: A retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: All children with foreign body aspiration at Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2015 to December 2020. PATIENTS: Children with FB removal using a flexible bronchoscopy were enrolled in the trial according to the inclusion criteria. MEASUREMENTS: Both multivariable and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the association between characteristic data and reintubations. The results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In total, 244 patients met with the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Among those participants, 28 children (11.5%) underwent reintubations after FB removal by flexible bronchoscopy. Independent factors associated with reintubations were identified as operative time ≥ 60 min [OR: 3.68, 95% CI (1.64–8.82)] and ASA ≥ III [OR: 5.7, 95% CI (1.23–26.4)]. CONCLUSIONS: Children undergoing FB removal by a flexible bronchoscopy may encounter with a high incidence of postoperative reintubations. Both long operative duration and a severe physical status cause a growing risk of reintubations.