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Review
. 2014 Oct 16;6(10):475-81.
doi: 10.4253/wjge.v6.i10.475.

Endoscopic management of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract: A review

Choichi Sugawa  1 , Hiromi Ono  1 , Mona Taleb  1 , Charles E Lucas  1
Affiliations
Review

Endoscopic management of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract: A review

Choichi Sugawa et al. World J Gastrointest Endosc. .

Abstract

Foreign body ingestion is a common condition, especially among children who represent 80% of these emergencies. The most frequently ingested foreign bodies in children are coins, toys, magnets and batteries. Most foreign body ingestions in adults occur while eating, leading to either bone or meat bolus impaction. Flexible endoscopy is the therapeutic method of choice for relieving food impaction and removing true foreign bodies with a success rate of over 95% and with minimal complications. This review describes a comprehensive approach towards patients presenting with foreign body ingestion. Recommendations are based on a review of the literature and extensive personal experience.

Keywords: Endoscopic management; Esophageal stricture; Food bolus impaction; Foreign body; True foreign body.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The photographs (A) show a piece of meat lodged at a narrowed gastroesophageal ring; the meat was removed with the snare (B and C). The photo (D) shows the ring after extraction with esophagitis; the narrowing was successfully dilated.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A 54-year-old woman with history of psychiatric illness swallowed four AA batteries and two button batteries (A). All these batteries in the stomach were removed using a snare net (B) one by one (C and D). Note the multiple erosions and shallow ulcers caused by button batteries (A, B and C).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The top photos (A and B) show a swallowed safety-pin in the stomach, removed with the gallstone retrieval basket. The lower photos (C and D) show a swallowed cat fish bone stuck in the proximal esophagus. The sharper edge was dislodged from the esophageal wall with a snare (C), and removed (D).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The top photo (A and B) shows a toothbrush being removed from the stomach with a snare. The lower photos (C and D) show several large metal spoons in the gastric antrum extending into the duodenal bulb; these could not be removed endoscopically. Successful laparoscopic surgery was performed.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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