Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the upper gastrointestinal tract: 5-year experience

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics and presentations of patients

	N	%
Age (years)
<10	14	31.1
10–18	6	13.3
18–60	17	37.8
>60	8	17.8
Sex
Male	24	53.3
Female	21	46.7
Presenting symptoms
History of foreign body	20	44.4
Sense of lump	13	28.9
Dysphagia	8	17.8
Variceal bleeding	2	4.4
Gastric outlet obstruction	1	2.2
Vomiting	1	2.2
Timing of endoscopy (days)
<1	10	22.2
1–7	29	64.4
>7	6	13.3

Figure 1 Examples of foreign bodies.

Notes: Coins (A) were the most common foreign bodies. Pins (B) were common in females and commonly seen piercing the antrum. A surgical towel after cholecystectomy (C) was encountered in only one patient. A fleshy meat bolus (D) was commonly trapped at esophageal stricture.

Figure 2 Surgical removal (A) of a stomach shaped (B) bezoar in a mentally disabled female.

Table 2 Types of trapped foreign bodies

Type	N	%
Coins	14	31.1
Meat bolus	13	28.9
Pin	7	15.6
Seeds/pea	2	4.4
Chicken bones	1	2.2
Nail	1	2.2
Cap of band ligation	1	2.2
Balloon of Sengstaken	1	2.2
Bezoars	1	2.2
Wedding ring	1	2.2
Tablets	2	4.4
Surgical towel	1	2.2

Figure 3 X-ray was used to localize the foreign body (coin; arrow) in some cases (A), and computed tomography (B) was used to describe the huge gastric bezoar (arrow) in the case of a mentally disabled patient.

Table 3 Site of trapped foreign bodies

Site	N	%
Upper esophagus	13	28.9
Lower esophagus	14	31.1
Gastric fundus	3	6.7
Antrum	14	31.1
Duodenal bulb	1	2.2

Table 4 Treatment outcomes

	N	%
Treatment
Extraction	41	91.4
Dislodgment	2	4.4
Instruments used
Dormia basket	17	37.8
Forceps	19	42.2
Snare	7	15.6
Anesthesia
General	6	13.3
Conscious sedation	39	86.7
Comorbidities
Liver disease	5	11.1
Motility disorders	1	2.2
Esophageal stricture (including postsclerotherapy)	12	26.7
Complications
Esophageal tears and bleeding	3	6.7
Success rate
Success	43	95.6
Failure	2	4.4