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Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
[Characteristics and outcomes of foreign body ingestion in children]
Gerardo Blanco-Rodríguez1, Gustavo Teyssier-Morales1, Jaime Penchyna-Grub1
1Servicio de Cirugía de Tórax y Endoscopía, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez.
Insights
Foreign body ingestion is common in children under 5, with coins being the most frequent object. X-rays diagnose, and endoscopy removes these foreign bodies, with a low complication rate.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a frequent pediatric emergency.
- Timely medical intervention is crucial to prevent short- and long-term complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize pediatric foreign body ingestions in the gastrointestinal tract.
- To identify associated complications and management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective and prospective study of 2637 pediatric FB ingestions.
- Data collected on patient demographics, FB type, location, removal method, and outcomes.
- Descriptive statistical analysis performed.
Main Results:
- Predominantly affected children under 5 years old (74%).
- Coins were the most common FB (78%), often lodged in the upper esophagus (79%).
- X-ray confirmed FB presence in 93%; rigid endoscopy achieved 86% removal success with 7.8% complication rate.
Conclusions:
- Foreign body ingestion is most prevalent in young children, with metallic objects like coins being common.
- Plain X-ray is the primary diagnostic tool.
- Endoscopic removal is effective, with rigid endoscopy frequently employed.
Introduction:
Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common home accident during childhood; a timely management by the specialists may help prevent complications in the short and long term.
Objective:
To describe the characteristics and complications of FB ingestion located in the gastrointestinal tract in the pediatric population.
Material And Methods:
Two phases, retrospective, and prospective study. Patients diagnosed with FB ingestion between January 1971 and December 2016 were included. The general characteristics of patients, FB type, removal method, and complications were registered. A descriptive analysis was performed.
Results:
Over 45 years, 2637 FBs were removed from the pharynx (n= 118), the esophagus (n= 2410), the stomach (n= 103), and the intestines (n= 6). Male patients predominated (50.9%); 74% were younger than 5 years. Besides, 57% arrived within the first 24 hours; ptyalism, dysphagia, and vomiting were the main symptoms; 16% of patients had no symptoms. It was possible to locate the FB using an X-ray in 93% of cases; the most common FBs were coins (78%); the most frequent location was the upper third of the esophagus (79%); 86% of FBs were removed using a rigid endoscope, and complications were observed in 7.8% of patients.
Conclusions:
FB ingestion predominated among children younger than 5 years; metal objects were the most common ones. A plain X-ray is the test of choice for diagnosis; removal is usually done with a rigid or flexible endoscope, depending on the endoscopist's experience.
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