Airway foreign bodies in pediatric patients: An analysis of composition and age via HCUP KID.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes for children food and non-food airway foreign body (AFB) diagnoses and to compare outcomes for patients age <2 versus ≥2 years with an AFB diagnosis.

METHODS: Data from 2016 HCUP KID was used to compare outcomes for food and non-food AFB diagnoses based on location in the larynx, trachea, bronchus, and whole group (including these three specified locations and location unspecified). Outcomes were also compared for children aged <2 versus ≥2 years. Demographic data included age, race, gender, primary payer, location and teaching status of the hospital. Available co-morbidity data included APR-DRG mortality and APR-DRG severity. Outcomes were length of stay (LOS), total charge, mortality, and performance of a tracheotomy.

RESULTS: 2973 patients were included. 49.1% were less than 2 years old, the remainder (50.9%) were between 2 and 20 years old. Food AFBs made up 26.0% and 74.0% were other specified non-food AFBs. Overall mortality was 3.7%, and 3.8% underwent tracheotomy. Children with non-food AFBs were significantly older, had significantly longer median LOS, and higher median total charges, when compared to food AFBs. Non-food AFBs had a significantly higher likelihood of tracheotomy. Patients aged 2 or more years with bronchial AFBs had significantly higher total charges, LOS, and APR-DRG risk mortality and severity than <2 year old patients with bronchial AFBs.

CONCLUSION: AFBs remain a serious health concern, especially non-food objects in older children which have elevated risks.