Management of Foreign Body Ingestion

Abstract

Management of ingested foreign bodies (FB) is a common clinical problem. A 10-year experience of 101 foreign body ingestions is reported. The experience suggests that endoscopic removal of foreign bodies is curative for objects located in the cricopharynx or upper esophagus. Foreign bodies which pass into the stomach can be observed for development of symptoms, as 80% of FB which reach the stomach spontaneously pass. Only 12% of patients required operation, which was done without mortality.