Mo1980 PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY REPORTING PRACTICES FROM FOREIGN BODY AND CAUSTIC INGESTION CASES: DATA AND COLLABORATION TO DRIVE CHANGE

Abstract

Foreign body (FB) and caustic ingestion events are common conditions managed by pediatric gastroenterologists. Several publicly accessible options exist for providers to report pediatric ingestions. However, industry has deemed existing data sources insufficient for some hazards to justify product safety changes. The objectives of this study were: 1) to capture ingestion injury reporting practices among pediatric gastroenterologists and 2) to discuss a solution. An email survey was sent out to pediatric gastroenterologists asking for: 1) number of years in practice, 2) total number of patients cared for who ingested specific FB’s (button batteries, toys/toy parts, magnets and detergent pods, other), 3) number of cases reported to any data source, and 4) observed morbidity or mortality from specific FBs, 5) if available, would they use a free smartphone application for reporting. 223 responses from pediatric gastroenterologists in practice a mean of 11.4 years (Range: 4 months to 50 years) were analyzed. 17,481 total cases of foreign body and caustic ingestion cases were described. Of these, only 5% of ingestions had been reported. Detergent pod ingestions were most likely to be reported (21%), followed by button batteries (10%), and magnets (10%). Coins, food impactions, and toy/toy parts were reported very infrequently (0-2%). The percent of respondents who had cared for patients with morbidity/mortality due to specific types of ingestions was: 3V lithium button battery (59%), 1.5V non-lithium button battery (22%), toy/toy part (9%), magnet (39%), detergent (19%), other FB (26%). 22% of respondents stated they have not seen cases of morbidity or mortality. 96% stated they would be likely to use a smartphone application to anonymously and efficiently report these injuries. Foreign body and caustic ingestion cases are dramatically underreported by pediatric gastroenterologists, and therefore existing data sources may fail to accurately capture the frequency and severity of these events. This large void in existing cumulative data has limited injury prevention efforts. The Global Injury Research Collaborative (GIRC, www.globalirc.org) is a new non-profit medical research organization dedicated to collection of clinically relevant, anonymous, de-identified injury data around the world via a recently launched free smartphone app platform. All gastroenterologists can contribute to this global centralized database that will help drive safety changes at the respective industry and regulatory levels.