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Published on: September 11, 2018

Surgically managed small-intestinal foreign bodies in children: clinical-radiologic characteristics and factors

Faling Chen1, Jiangbin Liu2, Zhibao Lv1

  • 1Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200062, People's Republic of China.

Pediatric Surgery International
|August 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Intestinal perforation is common in children with small-intestinal foreign bodies (FBs), often linked to abdominal tenderness and FB type. Early surgery is advised if perforation or obstruction is suspected.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Small-intestinal foreign bodies (FBs) pose a significant surgical challenge in pediatric patients.
  • Intestinal perforation is a serious complication requiring prompt diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze clinical and radiologic features of surgically managed pediatric small-intestinal FBs.
  • To identify predictors of intestinal perforation in these cases.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 45 children undergoing surgery for small-intestinal FBs.
  • Analysis of clinical, imaging, operative, and postoperative data.
  • Statistical comparison of patient groups with and without perforation.

Main Results:

  • Intestinal perforation occurred in 75.6% of patients.
  • Abdominal tenderness and metallic FBs on radiography were associated with perforation.
  • Computed tomography (CT) effectively visualized radiolucent FBs; FB type, particularly magnets and jujube pits, strongly predicted perforation.

Conclusions:

  • Small-intestinal FBs frequently lead to perforation in children, associated with specific clinical signs and FB types.
  • CT imaging is crucial for detecting radiolucent FBs.
  • Early surgical intervention is recommended for suspected perforation or obstruction.
Abstract

Keywords:
Foreign bodyIntestinal perforationPediatric surgeryRadiologic features

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