Risk factors for lower respiratory tract infection associated with tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration in children

Abstract

Background: Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (TFBA) is a major cause of death in children. There are few reports about lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) caused by TFBA. This study collected the TFBA in our hospital to analyze the LRTI and to determine its risk factors. Methods: A total of 194 children who were performed TFBA extraction in The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine between June 2019 and April 2020 were enrolled. The clinical data, cervicothoracic CT and operation records were collected. Chi-square test, rank sum test and multivariate logistics regression analysis were applied. Results: The incidence of LRTI was 46.6%, 68.6% and 68.6% respectively when retention time was within 24 hours, 1 week and more than 1 week. Cervicothoracic CT showed embedding site in and above trachea in 24 cases, in main bronchus in 134 cases, in segmental bronchus and below in 36 cases. Cervicothoracic CT showed no obvious abnormality in 60 cases, obstructive emphysema or atelectasis in 77 cases, obstructive pneumonia in 50 cases, and the rest in 7 cases. Cervicothoracic CT diagnosis and retention time of TFBA were different between LRTI group and non-LRTI group in univariate analysis. There was a correlation between the retention time of TFBA and LRTI in multivariate logistics regression analysis. Conclusionss: The incidence of LRTI caused by TFBA is high. There was no difference in the incidence of LRTI between organic and inorganic TFBA. The retention time of TFBA is an independent risk factor for LRTI.