Balloon extraction of esophageal foreign bodies in children

Whereas esophageal foreign bodies are commonly removed with rigid esophagoscopy under general anesthesia, selected foreign bodies also can be removed using a Foley catheter balloon under fluoroscopic control without anesthesia. The authors prefer to initially attempt removal of smooth, radiopaque esophageal foreign bodies using the balloon technique and then proceed to rigid esophagoscopy if unsuccessful.

The authors reviewed their 7-year experience with this approach in 276 children with esophageal foreign bodies.

One hundred seventy-three children underwent attempted balloon extraction, and 146 of these underwent successful removal with this method. Fifteen remained lodged in the esophagus and were subsequently removed by esophagoscopy, and 12 passed into the stomach and were observed. The only complication was one episode of epistaxis that resolved. Success of the balloon method was not related to patient age, foreign body duration, location, or presenting symptoms. The use of more than 5 minutes of fluoroscopy time was associated with a low likelihood of successful extraction.

The balloon extraction technique is a safe and effective alternative to rigid esophagoscopy for the removal of selected esophageal foreign bodies in children.