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Published on: September 11, 2018
Foreign body ingestion and associated factors in pediatric patients at a tertiary care center
L A Navia-López1, J F Cadena-León2, K R Ignorosa-Arellano2
1Servicio de Gastroenterología y Nutrición, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Ciudad de México, México.
Insights
Foreign body (FB) ingestion in children under 5 is common. Coins are frequent FBs, often lodged in the esophagus, and larger objects are associated with specific locations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Medical Imaging
- Endoscopy
Background:
- Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a frequent pediatric emergency, often necessitating endoscopic intervention.
- Understanding the characteristics of FB ingestion is crucial for effective management in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the clinical, radiographic, and endoscopic features of pediatric FB ingestion.
- To identify factors associated with the location and type of ingested foreign bodies.
Main Methods:
- An analytic cross-sectional study analyzed data from 85 pediatric patients with FB ingestion from 2013-2018.
- Statistical analysis included frequencies, percentages, medians, and chi-square tests to assess associations.
Main Results:
- Coins were the most common ingested foreign body (36%), frequently located in the esophagus.
- Larger objects (>2cm diameter) showed specific location associations.
- Endoscopic extraction was performed in 89.4% of cases, revealing mucosal injuries like erythema and erosion.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of pediatric foreign body ingestion requires consideration of object type, size, and patient factors.
- Clinical presentation, radiographic findings, and endoscopic results guide treatment strategies.
Introduction And Aims:
Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common problem in children under 5 years of age and is one of the main indications for endoscopy. The aim of the present study was to describe the clinical, radiographic, and endoscopic characteristics of patients with FB ingestion, as well as the factors associated with the anatomic location and the type of object ingested.
Materials And Methods:
An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on all patients with FB ingestion seen at the gastroenterology service from January 2013 to December 2018. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program, obtaining frequencies, percentages, medians, and interquartile ranges. Associations were assessed through the chi-square test.
Results:
Eighty-five patients (52 males and 33 females) were included, with a median age of 4 years. The most common symptom was vomiting (29.4%). Two radiographic projections were carried out in 72.9% of the cases and the stomach was the site where the FB was most frequently visualized (32.9%). The objects most commonly ingested were coins (36%), with esophageal location (p <0.05), as well as objects with a diameter larger than 2cm (p <0.05). An endoscopic procedure was performed on 76 patients (89.4%) for FB extraction, with findings of erythema (28.9%), erosion (48.6%), ulcer (10.5%) and perforation (1.3%).
Conclusions:
Numerous factors should be taken into account in the approach to FB ingestion in pediatric patients, including type and size of the FB, time interval from ingestion to hospital arrival, and patient clinical status and age.
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