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[Foreign bodies in esophagus in children: case series]

Hugo Rodríguez1, Giselle Cuestas, Hugo Botto

  • 1Servicio de Endoscopía Respiratoria, Hospital de Pediatría Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|June 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Foreign body ingestion is common in young children, often passing harmlessly. Button batteries require urgent removal to prevent esophageal injury.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Gastroenterology
  • Emergency Medicine

Context:

  • Foreign body ingestion is a frequent pediatric emergency, predominantly affecting children under three years old.
  • While most ingested foreign bodies pass spontaneously, esophageal impaction can lead to significant symptoms like vomiting and dysphagia.
  • Coins are the most common esophageal foreign bodies, but button batteries pose a higher risk of rapid injury.

Purpose:

  • To analyze the characteristics and outcomes of esophageal foreign body ingestions in children.
  • To emphasize the critical need for prompt diagnosis and differentiation between various foreign body types, particularly coins and button batteries.
  • To raise awareness among pediatricians regarding the recognition, prevention, and management of esophageal foreign bodies.

Summary:

  • This study reviewed 115 cases of esophageal foreign bodies in children.
  • Esophageal foreign bodies most frequently occur in children under three years old.
  • Button batteries necessitate immediate removal due to their potential for causing early and severe esophageal injury, distinguishing them from coins.

Impact:

  • Highlights the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in pediatric foreign body ingestion.
  • Provides crucial information for pediatricians to effectively manage esophageal foreign body cases.
  • Aims to reduce complications associated with delayed diagnosis or inappropriate management of ingested foreign bodies in children.

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