Risk Factors Predicting the Development of Complication after Foreign Body Ingestion

Jung, Sung Hoon; Paik, Chang Nyol; Lee, Kang Moon; Chung, Woo Chul; Lee, Jeong Rok; Chang, U Im; Yang, Jin Mo

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Complications related to foreign body ingestion are uncommon, and especially a food bolus, but some ingested foreign bodies are associated with severe and life threatening morbidity. The aim of this study is determine the predictive risk factors for complications resulting from foreign body ingestion in patients who are without gastrointestinal tract obstruction.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the data of 147 patients who were diagnosed with a foreign body in the GI tract without obstruction between Jan. 2000 to Aug. 2008.
RESULTS
Animal bone fragment and coin were the most common type of foreign bodies in adults and children, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed age (p=0.019), the duration of impaction (p=0.013) and the location of the impacted foreign body (p=0.011) were significant independent risk factors associated with the development of complications. Especially, the most important risk factor for children was the location of the impacted foreign body and for adults it was the duration of impaction.
CONCLUSIONS
Old age, a longer duration of impaction and impaction at the upper esophageal sphincter or upper esophagus are important predictive factors of complication after foreign body ingestion in patients without gastrointestinal tract obstruction. For cases with these factors, more intensive awareness by the physician should be adapted.