A child with suspected foreign body aspiration and airway distress should undergo which procedure urgently?

• A. Rigid bronchoscopy for removal
• B. Flexible laryngoscopy
• C. CT chest
• D. Observation

Answer: (A)

When a child has airway distress from a suspected foreign body, the immediate goal is to relieve the obstruction and restore safe breathing. Rigid bronchoscopy is the procedure of choice because it provides secure airway control during the procedure, allows direct visualization of the entire tracheobronchial tree, and offers a sturdy channel to grasp and remove objects of various shapes and sizes. It also enables suctioning of secretions and simultaneous ventilation, which is crucial in a distressed child.

Flexible laryngoscopy, by contrast, examines only the upper airway and cannot reliably reach or extract objects from the lower trachea or bronchi. CT chest is an imaging tool that would likely delay definitive treatment and exposes radiation without solving the obstruction. Observation would allow ongoing obstruction and risk rapid deterioration.

Thus, urgent rigid bronchoscopy for removal best addresses the need to quickly clear the airway and safely manage the child’s breathing.