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Retained esophageal foreign bodies in children

B Ravi Shankar1, S K Yachha, B C Sharma

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli Road, 226014, Lucknow, India.

Pediatric Surgery International
|September 24, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Foreign-body ingestion in children can cause serious esophageal issues. Prompt medical attention is crucial to prevent severe complications like fistulas and impaction above strictures.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Otolaryngology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Foreign-body (FB) ingestion is a frequent occurrence in pediatric patients.
  • Esophageal FB retention poses significant risks, potentially leading to severe complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the serious complications associated with retained esophageal foreign bodies in children.
  • To emphasize the dangers of FB impaction above esophageal strictures and the consequences of delayed referral.

Main Methods:

  • Case series reporting on five pediatric patients with retained esophageal foreign bodies.
  • Clinical presentation, management, and outcomes were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • One child presented with massive hematemesis secondary to an esophago-carotid fistula.
  • Four children had foreign bodies impacted above pre-existing esophageal strictures.
  • Delayed referral was noted as a contributing factor in some cases.

Conclusions:

  • Retained esophageal foreign bodies in children can lead to life-threatening complications, including vascular fistulas.
  • Impaction of even small foreign bodies above esophageal strictures presents a significant hazard.
  • Timely diagnosis and intervention are critical for managing esophageal foreign body ingestions in pediatric populations.

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