Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodies in Children: Experiences of 60 Cases in Kangwon, Korea

Lee, Young Sub; Kang, Kae Wool; Choi, Won Kyu

Abstract

PURPOSE: Ingested foreign bodies present a common clinical problem. It is well known that most of them pass uninterrupted through the gastrointestinal tract. We evaluated the role of endoscopy and Foley catheter for removal of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract.
METHODS
We investigated retrospectively 60 cases with foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract. They had been treated at Wonju Christian Hospital, Yonsei University of Korea, from January, 1996 through December, 1999.
RESULTS
The age of the patients ranged from 7 months to 13 years. Patients under 5 years were 57 cases (97%) and there was no significant difference in sex (M : F=1.07 : 1). 45 cases of the patients had no symptom. The most common foreign bodies were coins (43 cases). The most common location was esophagus (31 cases). The number of foreign body removal using flexible endoscopy and Foley catheter was 22 (36.7%) and 18 (30.0%) cases, respectively. In 18 cases (30.0%), foreign bodies passed spontaneously. Only 1 case (1.7%), curtain pin impaction at ileocecal region, required surgery.
CONCLUSION
Early foreign body removal from esophagus and stomach is recommended to lessen the morbidity and complication. Fluoroscopic foley catheter technique and flexible endoscopy for removal of esophageal foreign bodies in children is safe and effective.