Foreign bodies of the gastrointestinal tract

The majority of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract require no medical or surgical intervention for removal. Prior to the era of modern gastrointestinal endoscopy, the management of ingested objects or nontherapeutic objects placed in the rectum required general anesthesia and was relegated to the general surgeon or otolaryngologist. With the advancement of therapeutic endoscopy, fewer affected individuals require surgical intervention. The physician involved with the initial evaluation of these patients must have a working knowledge of foreign bodies of the gastrointestinal tract to facilitate appropriate and timely management and referral.