ABSTRACT Objective To describe the clinical, bronchoscopic, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects between children and adults. Methods This retrospective study compared the clinical and bronchoscopic characteristics of adults and children who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected foreign body aspiration. Data on sex, outpatient or emergency origin, bronchoscopy results, characteristics of the aspirated foreign body, and complications were analyzed. Results In total, 108 patients were included in the analysis, with foreign body aspiration diagnosed in 69% of patients (30 children and 44 adults). In 91% of patients, there was a clinical history suggestive of aspiration. The mean age of the adults was 65.89 (±19.75) years, and that of the children was 2.28 (±1.78) years. Most of the children were under 3 years of age (80%), while adults were mostly 70 years of age or older (54.5%). Emergency care was more common among children than adults. The most common foreign bodies found in both age groups were organic bodies, primarily seeds. The most frequent locations of foreign bodies were the lobar bronchi in adults and the main bronchi in children. Flexible bronchoscopy is the primary method for diagnosis and treatment. Transient hypoxemia occurred particularly frequently in children (5%). Conclusion Foreign body aspiration, particularly that involving seeds, is more common in the extremes of age. A clinical history suggestive of aspiration is crucial in determining the need for bronchoscopy, which should be performed as early as possible. Flexible bronchoscopy is an effective and safe diagnostic technique.

RESUMO Contexto - Preparo adequado é fundamental para garantia de boa qualidade em colonoscopia. Apesar de relatos de explosão do cólon durante colonoscopia, secundários à produção de metano e hidrogênio pela fermentação bacteriana, acredita-se que a troca gasosa durante o procedimento diminua a concentração existente de metano, permitindo a utilização com segurança, de manitol para o preparo de cólon. Assim, manitol é largamente utilizado para limpeza dos cólons antes da colonoscopia, especialmente devido ao seu baixo custo e eficácia. Objetivo - O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a segurança do uso de manitol no preparo dos cólons, quando comparado ao uso de fosfo-soda (NaP). Métodos - Este foi um estudo observacional retrospectivo no qual foram incluídos 250 pacientes submetidos a colonoscopia na Universidade Federal de São Paulo e Hospital Albert Einstein (São Paulo - Brasil). Os pacientes receberam preparo de cólon com manitol (n=50) ou NaP (n=200), de acordo com preferências dos médicos que encaminharam os pacientes. O estudo foi realizado entre agosto e dezembro de 2009. O principal resultado pesquisado foi a presença de níveis detectáveis de metano (CH4) durante a colonoscopia, e a redução nestes níveis após troca gasosa durante o procedimento. As concentrações de metano foram dosadas com detector multi-gas (X-am 7000, Dräger Safety AG & Co., KGaA, Lübeck, Alemanha) conectado a um cateter plástico que foi introduzido no canal de instrumentação do colonoscópio. Outro achado de interesse foram níveis de O2. Níveis de metano e O2 foram relatados em ppm. Média, diferença entre as médias e desvio padrão nos níveis dos gases em ambos momentos foram comparados nos dois grupos. A proporção de pacientes com níveis detectáveis ou altos de metano em ambos os grupos foram comparados. Variáveis contínuas foram analisadas com teste t e variáveis categóricas com o teste do qui-quadrado. Os Comitês de Ética de ambas instituições aprovaram o protocolo do estudo. Resultados - Pacientes nos dois grupos foram comparáveis quanto aos dados demográficos, indicação para colonoscopia, classificação ASA e qualidade do preparo do cólon. Sete (3,5%) pacientes no grupo NaP tinham níveis detectáveis de metano durante a introdução do colonoscópio. Os níveis de metano se tornaram indetectáveis durante a retirada do aparelho. Nenhum dos pacientes no grupo manitol tinha níveis detectáveis de metano. Níveis de O2 foram semelhantes nos dois grupos. Conclusão - Este é o estudo com maior casuística que avaliou a segurança do uso de manitol para preparo de cólon, no que diz respeito a dosagem de metano. Nossos resultados indicam que o emprego do manitol é tão seguro quanto o NaP, e que a troca gasosa é eficaz na redução da concentração de metano.

ABSTRACT Background - Adequate bowel preparation is critical for the quality of colonoscopy. Despite reported occurrence of colonic explosion due to methane and hydrogen production by bacterial fermentation during colonoscopy, gas exchange during the procedure is believed to be effective in lowering existing methane concentration, allowing for safe utilization of mannitol for bowel preparation. Thus, mannitol is widely used for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy, considering its low cost and effectiveness for bowel preparation. Objective - The aim of this study was to assess the safety of mannitol for bowel preparation, when compared to sodium phosphate (NaP). Methods - We conducted a prospective observational study in which 250 patients undergoing colonoscopy at Universidade Federal de São Paulo and Hospital Albert Einstein (São Paulo, Brazil) were approached for inclusion in the study. Patients received either mannitol (n=50) or NaP (n=200) for bowel preparation, based on physician indication. Study was conducted from August 2009 to December 2009. The main outcome of interest was presence of detectable levels of methane (CH4) during colonoscopy and reduction in such levels after gas exchange during the procedure. Methane concentrations were measured in three intestinal segments during scope introduction and withdrawal. Safety was assessed as the absence of high levels of methane, defined as 5%. Measurements were made using a multi-gas monitor (X-am 7000, Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA, Lübeck, Germany) connected to a plastic catheter introduced into the working channel of the colonoscope. Additional outcomes of interest included levels of O2. Methane and O2 levels are reported as ppm. Mean, difference and standard deviation of levels of gas measured in both moments were calculated and compared in both groups. Proportions of patients with detectable or high levels of methane in both groups were compared. Continuous variables were analyzed using t test and categorical variables using qui-square tests. The Ethics Committee in both study sites approved the study protocol. Results - Patients in both groups were similar regarding demographics, colonoscopy indication, ASA status and quality of bowel preparation. Seven (3.5%) patients in the NaP group had methane detected during introduction of the endoscope. Methane levels became undetectable during withdrawal of the scope. None of the patients in the mannitol group had detectable levels of methane. O2 levels did not differ in the groups. Conclusion - This is the largest study to assess the safety of mannitol for bowel preparation, considering methane measurements. Our results indicate that mannitol use is as safe as NaP, and gas exchange was efficient in reducing methane concentrations.