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Esophageal foreign bodies in pediatric patients: a thirteen-year retrospective study

Beata Rybojad1, Grazyna Niedzielska, Artur Niedzielski

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Children's University Hospital of Lublin, Chodzki Street 2, 20-093 Lublin, Poland. brybojad@wp.pl

Thescientificworldjournal
|May 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study reviewed 192 pediatric cases of esophageal foreign bodies, finding coins most common. Rigid esophagoscopy under general anesthesia is recommended for diagnosis and safe removal in doubtful cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Surgical Procedures

Background:

  • Esophageal foreign bodies are common in children, presenting with varied symptoms.
  • Accurate diagnosis and timely intervention are crucial for pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze clinical symptoms, radiological findings, and therapeutic outcomes of esophageal foreign bodies in pediatric patients.
  • To evaluate diagnostic imaging modalities and recommend optimal treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 192 suspected esophageal foreign body cases in children (6 months to 15 years) from 1998-2010.
  • Statistical analysis using chi-square test.
  • Review of clinical symptoms, radiological findings (plain chest X-ray, esophagram), and esophagoscopy results.

Main Results:

  • A foreign body was confirmed and removed in 163 children; coins were the most frequent object.
  • Common symptoms included dysphagia (43%), vomiting (29%), and drooling (28%).
  • Plain chest X-rays detected abnormalities in 132 cases; esophagram identified additional objects in 15 of 37 normal radiogram cases. No major complications were reported.

Conclusions:

  • Esophagram is a valuable second-line imaging test when initial X-rays are inconclusive.
  • Rigid esophagoscopy under general anesthesia is a safe and effective treatment for pediatric esophageal foreign bodies in suspected cases.

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