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Management of oesophageal foreign bodies in children
A F Uba1, A O Sowande, Y B Amusa
1Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, PMB 2076 Jos, Nigeria.
Insights
Retained oesophageal foreign bodies are a common hazard in children. Prompt endoscopic removal is crucial for successful outcomes, despite potential complications like perforation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Otolaryngology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Retained oesophageal foreign bodies pose a significant health risk to children.
- Accurate diagnosis and timely intervention are critical for managing this pediatric emergency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the management patterns and outcomes of children with retained oesophageal foreign bodies.
- To identify common foreign body types, locations, and associated complications.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study was conducted involving 108 pediatric patients (0-14 years).
- Foreign bodies were removed endoscopically under general anesthesia using laryngoscopy or rigid esophagoscopy.
Main Results:
- Coins were the most frequent foreign bodies (79.6%), primarily affecting children aged 1-5 years.
- Most patients presented within four days, with drooling and dysphagia as primary symptoms.
- Complications included esophageal perforations (3.7%) and lacerations (15%).
Conclusions:
- Retained oesophageal foreign bodies represent a frequent pediatric health concern.
- Early diagnosis and skilled, prompt endoscopic removal are essential for favorable outcomes.
Objective:
To evaluate the pattern and outcome of management of retained oesophageal foreign bodies in children.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, January 1991 to December 2000.
Subjects:
One hundred and eight paediatric patients, aged 0-14 years managed for retained oesophageal foreign bodies.
Intervention:
The foreign bodies were removed endoscopically, using either a larynoscope or a rigid oesophagoscope, under general anaesthesia.
Results:
There were 108 patients, with a mean age of 3.0 +/- 0.8 years and age range of 23 days to 14 years. The male to female ratio was 1.5: 1. Sixty four (59.3%) patients were within 1-5 year age group. Coins constituted 79.6% of the retained foreign bodies. Over 90% of patients presented within the first four days of the incidence. The dominant complaints were drooling of saliva in 37 (40.2%) and difficulty in swallowing in 35 (38.1%) patients. The commonest sites of the foreign body retention were the upper third of oesophagus 52(48.2%) and the hypopharynx 36(33.3%). The main complications following the foreign body removal were oesophageal perforations 4(3.7%) and lacerations 16(15%).
Conclusion:
Retained oesophageal foreign body is a common childhood health hazard. Early diagnosis and prompt skillful removal are necessary for a satisfactory outcome.