OBJECTIVE

Results assessment of diagnosis and treatment of children are suspected of foreign body impact.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

For the period from 1979 to 2019 the 307 children under 14 years old were submitted to the clinic with suspicion of a foreign body impact. More than 50% of patients (208) were under 4 years old. The period from the estimated time of swallowing a foreign body to the hospital submission was 1 hour — 5 days.

RESULTS

The contrast X-ray foreign body was found in 163 (53, 09%) cases. A foreign body of the pharynx was found in 1 case, the esophagus in 91 cases, the stomach in 88 cases, the duodenum in 2 cases. In 180 (98.9%) patients the foreign body was removed, in 2 cases (1.1%) it was moved to the stomach. Among the swallowed foreign bodies there were food impaction, bones, metal objects (coins, batteries, and magnets), plastic and glass objects. In all cases the foreign bodies were removed by using flexible endoscopes. There were no complications during the extraction of foreign bodies. In 10 (5.5%) cases after removal of foreign bodies the changes in the mucosa of the esophagus and stomach (erosion, ulcers, bedsores) were detected. A lethal outcome was observed in 1 child with a pressure sore of the esophagus wall and bleeding in the delayed period (1 week after extraction).

CONCLUSION

All children with a suspicion of foreign body impaction need endoscopic examination. In case of foreign body detection it should be removed. Removal of foreign bodies should be performed in a hospital. If there is damage to the mucosa or organ wall of the upper gastrointestinal tract associated with finding a foreign body further tactics are selected individually.