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 crico-pharynx 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.