The inhalation of a foreign body into the tracheobronchial tree is a child is a life-threatening accident. Forgotten foreign bodies In the airways cause chronic pulmonary infections, allergic asthma, bronchiectatic changes, and lung abscess Foreign bodies that cannot be grasped by bronchoscopic forceps should be removed by thoracotomy and bronchotomy. This report describes our experience In 16 patients who were treated to remove inhaled foreign bodies from the airways after repeated bronchoscopies had been unsuccessful from 1963 to 1981 at the department thoracic surgery of Seoul National University Hospital. The surgical procedures are as follows: 12 patients bronchotomy, 2 patient pneumonectomy, 2 patients lobectomy. In these cases, the foreign bodies are 8 metallic material, 3 plastic material, 1 bean, 1 black snail, and 3 cases of no records. Bronchotomy must be performed as soon as possible in order to avoid more advanced pathologic changes In the Involved lung, such as bronchiectasis, fibrosis or abscess.[KTCS 1981;4:331-338]