Abstract
Gastrointestinal foreign bodies (FB) are frequent complaints in the emergency departments, with esophageal foreign bodies as the most frequent cases. Symptoms are varied and depend on the location of the FB, with several techniques available for removal.
Objective: To describe the FB removed by endoscopy in children as well as the consulting population characteristics.
Patients and Method: Patient chart reviews of those who, during the last six years, underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results: 51 patients, 28 males and 23 females, with average age of four years old, underwent endoscopy due to FB intake. The most common symptoms were drooling (45%) and dysphagia (35%); the FBs were extracted mostly under general anesthesia. Coins were the most common foreign bodies found (57%) and they were mainly located in the esophagus (91%). All bodies were extracted by direct endoscopy or endoscopically assisted extraction; lesions that corresponded to erosions were found in 19 (37%) patients and ulcers in 4 (8%). There were no complications.
Conclusions: Endoscopic removal of gastrointestinal FBs is a safe procedure. Given the risk of serious injury, especially in foreign bodies in the esophagus, performing endoscopy within a reasonable time must always be considered. Management protocols are necessary to unify the standards of those working in emergency rooms, having in mind that the most important strategy is prevention.
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