Endoscopic removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies: results on a series of 51 pediatric patients

Purpose: Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) is still considered the gold standard approach for the removal of airway foreign bodies (FBs) in children; however, flexible bronchoscopy (FOB) has recently been proposed both as diagnostic and therapeutic means. Our purpose was to evaluate the outcomes of FOB, associated with the Dormia basket, for the removal of FBs. Methods: Retrospective data about 124 children who underwent bronchoscopy for the suspicion of a FB aspiration between January 2008 and January 2019 in our department were collected. Results: In a total of 51 cases, FBs were removed through FOB or RB associated with forceps or Dormia basket. Male to female ratio was 1.8:1, mean age 30 ± 26.1 months. Thirty-four (67%) FBs were directly removed through FOB, in most of the cases using Dormia basket and twelve (23%) patients underwent RB. The overall left-versus-right distribution was 57% vs. 43%. The mean retrieval procedural time was 36.29 ± 24.99 min for FOB and 52.5 ± 29.74 min for RB; the success rate of the procedures was 97% vs. 67%. Conclusion: FOB can be used not only as a diagnostic procedure, but also as the first method for the removal of airway FBs. The Dormia basket is a useful tool, especially to remove peripherally located FBs

Multidisciplinary Approach in the Treatment of Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: Twenty-Year Single-Center Experience

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is an acute, rare, severe condition with high mortality, but the optimal management protocol is still controversial. We retrospectively analyzed the results of multidisciplinary management in patients treated for DNM at our center over the last twenty years. Fifteen male patients, mean age 49.07 ± 14.92 years, were treated: 9 with cervico-pharyngeal etiopathogenesis, 3 peri-tonsillar/tonsillar, 2 odontogenic, 1 post-surgical; 6 with DNM type I, 6 with type IIA, and 3 with type IIB (Endo’s classification). Mean time between diagnosis and treatment was 2.24 ± 1.61 days. In all cases, mediastinum drainage via thoracotomy was performed after neck drainage via cervicotomy, associated with tooth treatment in two; one required re-operation; tracheostomy was necessary in 9, temporary intensive care unit stay in 4; 6 developed complications, without post-operative mortality. Main isolated germs were Staphylococci and Candida; 7 had polymicrobial infection. The most used antibiotics were meropenem, metronidazole, teicoplanin, third-generation cephalosporins and clyndamicin; anti-fungal drugs were fluconazole, caspofungin and anidulafungin. On multivariate analysis, presence of cardiovascular disease was statistically significantly associated with longer chest tube duration and hospital stay. DNM requires early diagnosis and treatment to reduce mortality and morbidity. The most effective treatment should provide a multidisciplinary approach, combining cervicotomy and thoracotomy to drain all infectious collections with administration and monitoring of the proper antimicrobial therapy