A 6-year Retrospective Study of Tracheobronchial Foreign Body Aspiration at Al-Basheer Hospital

Background: Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (TFBA) is a common medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and management. However, data on the incidence, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of TFBA in the Jordanian population are limited. This study aimed to describe the experience of TFBA cases managed at Al-Basheer Hospital, Amman, over a six-year period. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted including all patients who presented to Al-Basheer Hospital with suspected TFBA between January 2017 and October 2022. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, bronchoscopic findings, management approaches, and outcomes have been collected and analyzed accordingly. Results: A total of 67 patients (mean age of 19 years; range: 12–56) presented with TFBA, the majority of whom were female (88.1%). Pins accounted for 95.5% of the aspirated objects, with the left lower bronchus serving as the most frequent site of impaction (38.8%). Primary symptoms included coughing (97%), wheezing (67%), and choking (29%). Management was primarily successful via bronchoscopy (95.5%), though surgical intervention was necessary for four patients. Most presentations occurred within 7 days of aspiration, and there were no reported fatalities. Conclusion: TFBA remains a common and potentially serious condition, particularly in younger patients. The anatomical location of foreign body lodgment, especially in the left bronchus, influences clinical presentation and management. Early recognition and prompt bronchoscopic intervention result in favorable outcomes.