Endoscopy 1999; 31(4): 302-304
DOI: 10.1055/s-1999-13
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Management of Foreign Bodies in the Gastrointestinal Tract: An Analysis of 104 Cases in Children

 J. K. Kim,  S. S. Kim,  J. I. Kim,  S. W. Kim,  Y. S. Yang,  S. H. Cho,  B. S. Lee,  N. I. Han,  S. W. Han,  I. S. Chung,  K. W. Chung,  H. S. Sun
  • Division of Gastroenterology, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Medical College, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 1999 (online)

Background and Study Aims: Ingested foreign bodies may be managed by endoscopy, observation, or surgery. The aim of the study was to investigate the methods of removal of foreign bodies according to type and location, success rates, and complications.

Patients and Methods: The charts of 104 children who had ingested foreign bodies were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Of the patients, 80 (76.9 %) were managed endoscopically. The overall success rate for endoscopic management was 98.8 %. There were no complications during endoscopic interventions. In 23 cases the foreign bodies spontaneously passed through the gastrointesti-nal tract (22.1 %). Surgical removal of a foreign body was done in only one case (0.96 %). The majority of the foreign bodies which were located in the upper gastrointestinal tract could be removed endoscopically regardless of the nature of the material. Foreign bodies in the small and large intestine tended to pass through spontaneously without complications.

Conclusions: It appears that the endoscopic approach is the preferable method for the extration of upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies in child patients because of its high success rate, and that foreign bodies in the small and large intestine tend to be passed spontaneously without complications.

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J. K. Kim,M.D. 

Dept. of Internal Medicine

St. Mary Hospital

62 Youido Dong, Yong Dung Po Gu

Seoul

South Korea

Phone: + 82-2-7803132

Email: jkkim@cmc.cuk.ac.kr

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