Foreign Body Removal from Stomach: An Innovative Approach Using C-arm in ENT

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Procedures

Background:

• Foreign body ingestion is a frequent pediatric emergency requiring prompt retrieval.
• Otolaryngologists and Gastroenterologists commonly manage these cases, often involving endoscopic procedures.
• Accidental coin ingestion is particularly common in young children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a novel use of C-arm fluoroscopy for locating a foreign body (coin) in the stomach.
• To describe an improvised method for foreign body retrieval in a resource-limited setting.
• To add to the literature on diagnostic and interventional techniques for gastrointestinal foreign bodies.

Main Methods:

• A 9-year-old female ingested a coin, initially located in the distal esophagus via imaging.
• During rigid esophagoscopy, the coin was not found, suggesting gastric migration.
• C-arm fluoroscopy was utilized to confirm the coin's location within the stomach.

Main Results:

• The coin was successfully located in the stomach using C-arm fluoroscopy.
• This imaging modality aided in the subsequent retrieval of the foreign body.
• The procedure was performed in a tertiary care center lacking advanced endoscopic facilities.

Conclusions:

• C-arm fluoroscopy can be an effective tool for locating foreign bodies within the gastrointestinal tract, especially when advanced imaging is unavailable.
• This case highlights an improvised technique for foreign body retrieval in resource-limited environments.
• The findings contribute valuable knowledge for managing pediatric foreign body ingestions in centers without specialized equipment.