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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
[Pharyngoesophageal foreign bodies]
M T Lahoz Zamarro1, J Martínez Subías, M Laguía Pérez
1Hospital Obispo Polanco de Teruel.
Rigid esophagoscopy effectively removes upper digestive tract foreign bodies, with meat bones in the cervical esophagus being most common. While diagnostic imaging can be unreliable, the procedure is safe with minimal complications.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Otolaryngology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Foreign body ingestion in the upper digestive tract is a common clinical issue.
- Rigid esophagoscopy is a standard procedure for diagnosis and removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy and safety of rigid esophagoscopy for foreign body removal.
- To identify common foreign bodies and impaction sites.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 77 rigid esophagoscopies.
- Analysis of patient demographics, foreign body type, impaction site, and complications.
Main Results:
- Meat bones were the most frequent foreign body, primarily in the cervical esophagus.
- 22% of procedures were negative for foreign bodies, potentially due to unreliable radiographic studies.
- Complications included three esophageal erosions and one pneumothorax.
Conclusions:
- Rigid esophagoscopy is an effective method for removing upper digestive tract foreign bodies.
- Cervical esophageal impaction of meat bones is prevalent.
- Careful patient selection based on clear symptoms is crucial, and reliance on radiographic studies alone should be approached with caution.
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