Foreign Body Removal

Patients with foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract commonly present to the emegency department. Foreign bodies in the upper GI tract are usually swallowed, purposefully or accidentally.

The child may accidentally ingest foreign bodies (i.e. foreign objects such as coins, batteries, toys, pins, dentures etc., and food items such as pieces of meat or bones [chicken or fish]). These items may get stuck or lodged at various locations in the gastrointestinal tract and all require removal. Other objects require removal even if they are not stuck due to their potential to cause injury. Examples include batteries lodged in the esophagus, and sharp or large foreign bodies of any kind.

In some cases, the presence and location of a foreign body may be determined by X-ray. In other cases foreign bodies are not visible by X-ray and require an endoscopic procedure for diagnosis. In addition to diagnostic purposes, endoscopy is used as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for removal of foreign objects in the GI tract. Foreign bodies may be removed by both upper endoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy depending on their location. Some foreign bodies do not require removal and may pass on their own under supervision of the treating physician. The child is kept fasting prior to endoscopic procedure and is allowed to eat after removal of foreign body as advised by the doctor.