Application of the Virtual Bronchoscopy in Children with Suspected Aspiration of the Foreign Body - Case Report

In diagnosing the aspiration of the foreign body (AFB) in children most important are: medical history, clinical signs and positive radiography of the lungs. Common dilemmas in the diff erential diagnosis are life-threatening asthma attacks or difficult pneumonia. Conventional rigid bronchoscopy (RB) is not recommended as a routine method. Virtual bronchoscopy (VB) can be a diagnostic tool for solving dilemmas. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy (FOB) has a therapeutic stake in severe cases. Herein, we describe a girl, at the age of 6, who was hospitalized due to rapid bronchoconstriction and based on the anamnesis, clinical symptoms and physical fi ndings the suspicion was that she aspirated the foreign body. Due to the poor general condition and possible sequel, the idea of RB was dropped out. Multidetector computed tomography of the chest and VB was performed and AFB was not found. Due to positive epidemiological situation, virus H1N1 was excluded. FOB established that the foreign body does not exist in the airways. During bronchoscopy numerous castings are aspirated from the peripheral airways which lead to faster final recovery. With additional procedures, the diagnosis of asthma was confirmed and for girl that was the first attack. Along with inhaled corticosteroids as prevention she feels well.

Virtual bronchoscopy can be successfully used as a valid diagnostic procedure in suspected foreign body in the children’s lungs, but fiber-optic bronchoscopy remains most important diagnostic and therapeutic method.