Foreign body ingestion: review and suggested guidelines for management

Eighty percent of ingested foreign bodies which reach to stomach will pass uneventfully through the gastrointestinal tract. The remainder may cause obstruction, perforation or hemorrhage. The risk of complications is increased with long sharp metal objects and animal bones, and may be higher in patients with adhesions due to prior abdominal surgery. Pre-existing intestinal disease such as Crohn's or intestinal stenosis may predispose to complications. The use of overtubes has made endoscopic removal of sharp objects safer. In patients at increased risk for complications, we recommended early endoscopic retrieval of ingested foreign objects.