Flexible Versus Rigid Bronchoscopy for Tracheobronchial Foreign Body Removal in Children: A Comparative Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2024 Sep 28

PMID 39337140

Authors

Alaa Safia

Uday Abd Elhadi

Rawnk Bader

Ashraf Khater

Marwan Karam

Taiser Bishara

Saqr Massoud

Shlomo Merchavy

Raed Farhat

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The removal of foreign bodies (FBs) from the airways of children is a critical procedure that can avert serious complications. While both flexible and rigid bronchoscopy techniques are employed for this purpose, their comparative efficacy and safety remain subjects of debate. Therefore, we conducted this investigation to compare between both procedures. Studies comparing flexible to rigid bronchoscopy ( = 14) were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. We performed comparative meta-analyses of reported presentation characteristics and clinical outcomes, using fixed- and random-effects models. A diverse range of FB types and locations were identified. No difference was observed in the success rate of FB removal between flexible and rigid bronchoscopy (logOR = 0.27; 95%CI: -1.91:2.45). The rate of negative first bronchoscopy was higher in the flexible compared to the rigid group (logOR = 2.68; 95%CI: 1.68:3.67). Conversion rates to the alternative method were higher in the flexible bronchoscopy group. The overall complication rates were similar between both methods; however, the risk of desaturation was significantly lower with flexible bronchoscopy (logOR = -2.22; 95%CI: -3.36:-1.08). Flexible bronchoscopy was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay. The choice of bronchoscopy technique should be tailored to individual case characteristics.

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