Keywords: Aspiration, accidents, foreign bodies, child

Abstract: The authors reviewed retrospectively 88 charts of foreign body aspiration, between 1982 and 1991, at the Hospital de Pronto Socorro de Porto Alegre - RS. The accidents occurred mainly in children up to 4 years-old. The foreign bodies were not visualized by conventional X-rays in one third of the cases and were localized mainly in the right bronchius. All patients underwent to rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia for diagnosis and/or treatment. There were a low rate of complications. The authors conclude that broncoscoppy is a safe method for bronchial foreign body removal.