Risk Management and Recommendations for the Prevention of Fatal Foreign Body Aspiration: Four Cases Aged 1.5 to 3 Years and Mini-Review of the Literature

Angelo Montana, Monica Salerno, Alessandro Feola, Alessio Asmundo, Nunzio Di Nunno, Filomena Casella, Emilpaolo Manno, Federica Colosimo, Raffaele Serra and Giulio Di Mizio
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Angelo Montana: Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies G.F. Ingrassia, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87 Edificio B, 95123 Catania, Italy
Monica Salerno: Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies G.F. Ingrassia, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87 Edificio B, 95123 Catania, Italy
Alessandro Feola: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Luciano Armanni 5, 80138 Naples, Italy
Alessio Asmundo: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine—Dermatology, University of Messina, “G. Martino” Hospital, 98124 Messina, Italy
Nunzio Di Nunno: Department of History Society and Human Studies, University of Salento-Lecce, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Filomena Casella: Forensic Medicine, Department of Law, Magna Grecia, University of Catanzaro, 81100 Catanzaro, Italy
Emilpaolo Manno: Emergency Department, Maria Vittoria Hospital-Torino, 10144 Torino, Italy
Federica Colosimo: Forensic Medicine, Department of Law, Magna Grecia, University of Catanzaro, 81100 Catanzaro, Italy
Raffaele Serra: Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 81100 Catanzaro, Italy
Giulio Di Mizio: Forensic Medicine, Department of Law, Magna Grecia, University of Catanzaro, 81100 Catanzaro, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Background: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a significant public health concern among the pediatric population, and fatalities are dramatic for families. It typically involves organic foreign bodies (mainly food) aspirated by children under three years old, usually at home or school. This review aimed to focus on the preventive measures around four actual cases of fatal foreign body aspiration, emphasizing the correct execution of the Heimlich maneuver and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, supervised mealtimes, and high-risk foods. (2) Methods: Four fatal cases of foreign body aspiration in children are presented here. The children were in a free environment, such as school, home, and the countryside, and were in the presence of teachers, parents, and a grandmother who did not supervise the children adequately. A literature review was performed via the MEDLINE database using the key terms: “foreign body aspiration,” “infant choking, 1.5 to 3 years,” “food and foreign body aspiration,” “common household,” “prevention of foreign body aspiration,” “guidelines,” “recommendations,” “training of caregivers (parents, educators),” “resuscitation,” “Heimlich maneuver,” and “disengagement of the upper airways.” We focused on the prevention of foreign body aspiration. (3) Results: a complete postmortem examination was performed. In three cases, the foreign bodies were food (mozzarella cheese, pear, or raw bean), while in one case, the foreign body was a pebble. (4) Conclusions: This review aimed to discuss recent scientific literature and provide a perspective on the benefits of a dedicated approach to the management of fatal foreign body aspiration in children by caregivers who usually have no experience with the best ways of supervising children in a safe environment, especially regarding the correct execution of resuscitation maneuvers, such as the Heimlich maneuver. Recommendation updates could improve healthcare quality in a pediatric setting and reduce medico-legal implications.

Keywords: foreign body aspiration; health promotion; autopsy; children; prevention; community (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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