Comparison of Anesthetic Techniques on Outcomes of Pediatric Rigid Bronchoscopy for Foreign Body Removal

Background Although both methods of spontaneous respiration and controlled ventilation during anesthesia are safe and effective for managing children with foreign body aspiration, there is no consensus from the literature as to which technique is optimal. This study aimed to determine the outcomes of anesthetic techniques in pediatric rigid bronchoscopy for foreign body removal. Materials and Methods In this retrospective cross sectional study, all children underwent rigid bronchoscopy for managing foreign body aspiration at Mofid hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2009 to 2015 were enrolled. Data gathering was done by a surgical technologist and using a structured checklist. The measured variables included gender, age, weight, and duration of anesthesia, duration of bronchoscopy, hospitalization in intensive care unit (ICU), and recovery time, and possible major and minor complications. Results Totally, 159 patients were assessed of whom 10 (6.5%) were maintained spontaneous respiration and 149 (99.35%) were given muscle relaxant. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of subjects was 27.21 ± 24.40 months, and also 61% (n=97) were male. The two groups did not differ in terms of age, gender and weight (p>0.05). Patients with controlled ventilation had a similar duration of anesthesia, duration of bronchoscopy, hospitalization in ICU, recovery time, and complications with the patients who had spontaneous respiration during bronchoscopy (p > 0.05). Conclusion Patients with spontaneous respiration and controlled ventilation during rigid bronchoscopy have a same outcome during and after the procedure. However, we strongly recommend further study in this regard.