Publication:

Endoscopic management of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract

Background Foreign body ingestion and food bolus impaction is a common clinical scenario and can present as an endoscopic emergency. Though majority of them pass spontaneously 10-20% require endoscopic intervention. Flexible endoscopy is recommended as therapeutic measure with minimal complications. The aim of our study is to present 2 years’ experience in dealing with foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Methods Cases of foreign body (FB) ingestion admitted to department of general surgery from January 2015 to December 2016 were evaluated. The patients were reviewed with details on age, sex, type of FB, its location in gastrointestinal tract, treatment and outcome.

Results A total of 23 cases were studied. Age range was 2-75 years. Males were predominant (60.87%). Coins were found most commonly (52.17%). Esophagus was the commonest site of FB lodgment (65.22%). Upper esophagus being the most common (39.13%). Upper gastrointestinal flexible endoscopy was useful in retrieving FB in all the 23 cases. There were no complications throughout the study period.

Conclusions Flexible endoscopy should be used as definitive treatment and endoscopic treatment is safe and effective.