Management of ingested foreign bodies. How justifiable is a waiting policy?

Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2008 Jun;18(3):286-7. doi: 10.1097/SLE.0b013e31816b78f5.

Abstract

Foreign body ingestion is a commonly seen accident in emergencies, usually in children (80%), elderly, mentally impaired, or alcoholic individuals, whereas it may occur intentionally in prisoners or psychiatric patients. According to the literature, 90% of ingested foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal tract without complications, 10% to 20% necessitate endoscopic removal, whereas only 1% of them will finally need surgical intervention. In clinical practice, we often face the dilemma of choosing the appropriate treatment modality. We present 13 cases treated in our department, emphasizing in a "waiting and close observation" policy. Among these cases, only 1 patient needed to be operated because of obstruction of ileocecal valve by a large coin. Indications for treatment where applicable are also being discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Decision Making*
  • Emergency Medical Services / standards*
  • Endoscopy / methods*
  • Female
  • Foreign Bodies / surgery*
  • Foreign Bodies / therapy
  • Foreign-Body Migration / surgery*
  • Foreign-Body Migration / therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Time Factors