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Esophageal foreign bodies in the pediatric population: our first 500 cases

Danny C Little1, Sohail R Shah, Shawn D St Peter

  • 1Department of Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|May 9, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Foley balloon extraction is a safe, cost-effective method for removing esophageal foreign bodies in children. This procedure achieved an 88% success rate, offering significant patient charge savings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Esophageal foreign bodies are common in children, presenting with choking and dysphagia.
  • While rigid esophagoscopy was traditional, Foley balloon extraction offers a safer alternative.
  • Esophageal perforation is a rare but serious complication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Foley balloon extraction for pediatric esophageal foreign bodies.
  • To compare balloon extraction with traditional rigid esophagoscopy.
  • To assess the cost-effectiveness of the balloon extraction technique.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 555 children with esophageal foreign bodies over 16 years.
  • Data collected included patient demographics, symptoms, foreign body type and location, and extraction method.
  • Univariate statistical analysis was used.

Main Results:

  • Coins were the most common foreign body (88%), often lodged in the superior esophagus (73%).
  • Balloon extraction with fluoroscopy was successful in 80% of cases, with an overall success rate of 88%.
  • Children under 1 year had a higher failure rate (25%); no airway aspirations occurred. Significant cost savings were noted.

Conclusions:

  • Foley balloon extraction is a safe, cost-effective, and applicable procedure for infants, children, and adolescents.
  • Experienced practitioners can achieve success rates exceeding 80%.
  • This method reduces patient charges compared to traditional approaches.
Abstract

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