Foreign Body Ingestion

Abstract

Foreign-body ingestion and food bolus impaction are common causes of esophageal obstruction, with an annual incidence of 13 cases per 100,000, and represent approximately 4% of all emergency endoscopies. Although the majority of foreign bodies that travel to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract will pass spontaneously, 10 to 20% must be removed endoscopically, and 1 to 5% will require surgery. Key diagnostic and therapeutic decisions are based on common factors, including the type of ingested object, number of objects, timing between ingestion and presentation, anatomic location of the object, and presence or absence of symptoms. Complications relating to foreign-body ingestion are typically uncommon; however, the associated morbidity may be severe and occasionally life threatening, and despite the fact that overall mortality has been extremely low, it has been estimated that up to 1,500 deaths occur annually in the United States as a result of foreign-body ingestion. The initial and follow-up management strategies are crucial to preventing morbidity. This review details the epidemiology, etiology and pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and complications of foreign-body ingestion. Figures show examples of foreign bodies in the esophagus and stomach, three esophageal areas where a foreign body is likely to be impacted, examples of a meat bolus in the esophagus, radiograph of a patient who swallowed one nail and three batteries, and examples of linear erosions of the esophagus and stomach. Tables list the most common GI pathology predisposing individuals to esophageal foreign-body impaction, timing and management of food bolus impaction and foreign-body ingestion, endoscopic management strategies for food bolus impaction and ingested foreign bodies, and radiographic and surgical management strategies for monitoring progress of foreign-body passage through the GI tract. This review contains 5 highly rendered figures, 4 tables, and 78 references.