Abstract
Background/Aims: Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common clinical situation. In some cases, it could be life-threatening, requiring interventional digestive endoscopy. Knowing the main FBs observed could help to prevent their ingestion or to improve management. The aim of this study is to report the results of upper digestive endoscopies performed for ingestion of FBs in Yaoundé (Cameroon). Methods: We recorded all patients who did a gastroscopy for FB ingestion from January 2000 to April 2020 in three medical centers of Yaoundé. We collected data concerning the socio-demographic characteristics of patients, foreign body type, endoscopic management and outcome. Results: A total of 9380 upper digestive endoscopies were performed, with 51 FBs ingestion (0.54%). Male were 27 (52.9%). The mean age was 25.8 ± 22.3 years (8 months to 75 years). Coins were the most frequent FB (23.5%), only observed in children, followed by fishbones (17.6%), only observed in adults. We also observed dental wears (11.8%), metallic objects (11.8%), non-metallic objects (3.9%), batteries (3.9%), toothpick (2%), packet of tablets (2%), and bezoars (2%). The FB was unknown at 21.6%. The most frequent localization was the esophagus in 29/36 patients (80.5%). Endoscopic removal was a success in 35/36 patients (97.2%). A surgery has been performed on one patient. We didn’t register any death. Conclusion: Most common FBs ingested in Yaoundé are coins and fishbones. The upper digestive endoscopy has a high success rate.
Highlights
Ingestion of foreign body (FB) is a frequent clinical situation [1]
The aim of this study is to report the results of upper digestive endoscopies performed for ingestion of Foreign body (FB) in Yaoundé (Cameroon)
We recorded all patients who did a gastroscopy for FB ingestion from January 2000 to April 2020 in three medical centers of Yaoundé
Summary
Ingestion of foreign body (FB) is a frequent clinical situation [1]. In some cases, it could be life-threatening: it is an emergency [2] [3] [4]. Some FBs could come out alone with feces, but some others could be trapped inside the oropharynx, the respiratory or digestive tract at gastrointestinal angulations or narrowing [9]. Having an idea on the epidemiology of ingested FBs in the gastrointestinal tract in our area could help to prevent their onset, and to improve their management. We describe the epidemiology, the etiology, the management and the outcome of ingested FBs in the upper digestive tract in three digestive endoscopic centers in Yaoundé (Cameroon)
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