Foreign Body Aspiration

Most prevalent in children ages ≤3 y.

In adults, elderly are most susceptible to FB aspiration. Risk factors include Alzheimer disease or dementia, stroke, loss of consciousness due to trauma, alcohol intoxication, or drug overdose.

Foods are most commonly aspirated foreign objects.

Hypoxemia due to FB obstruction

Fragmentation of the FB and distal dislodgement during retrieval

Severe inflammation due to presence of high oil contents in a FB, leading to bulky granulation resulting in bronchial stenosis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, and lung abscess

Exacerbation of hypoxemia due to ineffective ventilation during either diagnosis or treatment secondary to sedation or prolonged periods of apnea during extraction of FB

Prolonged extraction of FB, airway swelling, and bleeding, which may lead to further respiratory compromise