A simple latex protector hood for safe endoscopic removal of sharp-pointed gastroesophageal foreign bodies

Abstract

The large majority of ingested foreign bodies (FBs) pass through the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously without complications. Thus, treatment has traditionally included an initial period of observation. 1 The overall rate of perforation from foreign objects is estimated at less than 1%. 2, 3 However, when considering sharp objects as a separate group, the rate of perforation increases to 15% to 35%, 4, 5 so that early extraction is usually advocated. After the advent of fiberoptic endoscopy, a wide variety of ingested FBs have been successfully removed from the gut. Nevertheless, a number of severe complications can occur during extraction, especially of sharp objects. 1, 6, 7 Several techniques for safe endoscopic retrieval have been proposed, 7-2° most of which can, however, be used only for the extraction of FBs of fixed size and form. We previously described our preliminary experience in adults and children with a new, commercially available protector device specially designed for the endoscopic removal of sharp FBs of the upper gastrointestinal tract. 21, 22 We report herein our 5-year experience with this device in removing a wide variety of large, sharp-pointed g astroesophageal objects.