[Foreign bodies in digestive tract of pediatric patients]

F Cuevas Schacht1, L Pérez-Fernández, A Ortega Salgado

  • 1Servicio de Endoscopia, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México, D.F.

Insights

Endoscopic management effectively treats most pediatric upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies, with rare complications. Coins and small metallic objects are the most common foreign bodies in children aged 2-5 years.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Endoscopic Procedures
  • Foreign Body Ingestion

Context:

  • Upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies are a common pediatric emergency.
  • Timely diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent complications.

Purpose:

  • To review the experience with endoscopic management of upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies in children.
  • To identify common foreign bodies, demographic patterns, and complication rates.

Summary:

  • A retrospective review of 421 children undergoing endoscopic foreign body removal.
  • Coins and metallic objects (59%) were most frequent, followed by plastics (35%).
  • Complications requiring surgery occurred in only 1% of cases, with a 1.5:1 male-to-female ratio and peak incidence in 2-5 year olds.

Impact:

  • Highlights the safety and efficacy of endoscopic intervention for pediatric foreign bodies.
  • Provides data on prevalence and risk factors, aiding preventative strategies.
  • Minimally invasive endoscopic techniques significantly reduce the need for surgical intervention.

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