Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health, Department of Cardiology, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: dario.gregori@unipd.it.
BACKGROUND: Suffocation due to foreign bodies (FB) is a leading cause of death in children aged 0-3. No data from the former U.S.S.R. are available in the international scientific literature.
METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted at the Iashvili Central Children Hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia from 1989 to 2011 were analyzed. Injuries in the upper airways due to foreign bodies' inhalation were collected and compared with the Susy Safe Registry and the pooled estimates of the meta-analysis.
RESULTS: 2896 cases were collected. Distribution of injuries in children younger than 3 years was significantly higher than in the Susy Safe Registry and in the "High-Income" countries in the meta-analysis. Percentage of injuries due to organic objects (86%) was significantly higher than in published data.
CONCLUSIONS: Since Georgia is not showing any substantial difference, both in epidemiology and treatment of foreign bodies injuries, as compared to the other case series, translation of public health initiatives from other most advanced prevention experiences is possible and it is likely to be effective. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, Epidemiological case series.