OBJECTIVETo explore the reasons of multiple operations in children with airway foreign body through analyzing the clinical data of children who received two or more operations.

METHODSFrom 2003 to 2009, all children with airway foreign body who received two or more operations in hospital were enrolled. The clinical manifestations, image before and after operation and intraoperative conditions were retrospectively analyzed, in order to find the reasons of multiple operations.

RESULTSAll children fully recovered, no serious complications or death. The reasons of two or more operations were multiple: 21 cases (42.8%) were related to the factor of apparatus, 20 (40.8%) cases were related to the quality, surrounding conditions and location of the foreign body and experience and surgical skills of operator, 4 (8.2%) cases were due to incarceration of foreign body, another 4 (8.2%) cases were due to unstable intraoperative oxygen saturation.

CONCLUSIONSBoth subjective and objective factors (quality, surrounding conditions or location of foreign body, et al) were related to multiple operations. To reduce the chance of multiple operations, careful preoperative assessment and preparation are necessary.