Background: Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a decline in pediatric emergency
department visits. Our aim was to assess the pattern of pediatric
foreign body aspiration (FBA) during the first year of the COVID-19, in
comparison to the prior years. Methods: In this retrospective
multicenter study, we compared the number of children that presented
with FBA during the COVID-19 year (March 1st, 2020 to February 28,
2021), to the annual average of the years 2016-2019. We also compared
the lockdown periods to the post-lockdown periods and the percentage of
missed FBA, proven FBA, and flexible bronchoscopy as the removal
procedure. Results: 345 children with FBA from six centers were
included, 276 in the pre-COVID-19 years (average 69 per year) and 69 in
the COVID-19 year. There was no difference in the prevalence of FBA
between the COVID-19 year and any of the prior four years. Examining the
lockdown effect, the monthly incidence of FBA dropped from a
pre-COVID-19 average of 5.75 cases to 5.1 cases during lockdown periods
and increased to 6.3 cases in post-lockdown periods. No difference in
the percentage of missed FB or proven FB was observed. There was a
significant rise in the usage of flexible bronchoscopy as the removal
procedure (Average of 15.4% vs 30.4%, p=0.001) Conclusion: There was
no difference in the prevalence of FBA during the COVID-19 year.
However, there were fewer cases during lockdown periods, compared to
post-lockdown periods, presumably related to better parental
supervision.
Foreign body aspiration: clinical utility of flexible bronchoscopy
