[Foreign body ingestion in children: recommendation for the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Medical Imaging
• Emergency Medicine

Context:

• Ingested foreign bodies in children often present without symptoms, necessitating a high index of clinical suspicion.
• While most foreign bodies pass spontaneously, severe complications like bowel perforation and obstruction are possible.
• Limited evidence-based data exists for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, with no existing guidelines in German-speaking countries.

Purpose:

• To establish a standardized, interdisciplinary flowchart for managing radiolucent and radiodense foreign bodies ingested by children.
• To provide a practical guideline addressing the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in pediatric foreign body ingestion.
• To consolidate available data and expert consensus into actionable recommendations.

Summary:

• The study introduces an interdisciplinary flowchart for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric gastrointestinal foreign body ingestion.
• This flowchart addresses both radiolucent and radiodense foreign bodies, incorporating available evidence and clinical consensus.
• It aims to guide physicians in managing these cases, especially in the absence of formal treatment recommendations.

Impact:

• Provides a much-needed clinical guideline for pediatric foreign body ingestion in German-speaking regions.
• Enhances diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic decision-making, potentially reducing complications.
• Facilitates a standardized, evidence-informed approach to a common pediatric emergency.