OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of diagnosis and treatment of foreign bodies of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
There were 1187 patients aged 15-99 years with suspected foreign body of the upper gastrointestinal tract. In 536 patients (266 men, 270 women), foreign bodies were detected. Ingestion of a foreign body was more common in patients aged 46-65 years. In 516 patients, foreign bodies were detected in the esophagus (pharyngo-esophageal junction — 25, upper third of the esophagus — 426, middle third of the esophagus — 34, lower third of the esophagus — 21, esophageal-gastric junction — 10). Four patients admitted with esophageal wall perforation. In 3 cases, foreign bodies were localized in the throat, 15 patients — in the stomach, 2 patients — in the duodenum.
RESULTS
In most cases, foreign bodies were organic (n=506). Removal was successful in 530 cases. In 4 patients with esophageal wall perforation and mediastinitis, removal was performed intraoperatively. Flexible endoscope was used in 500 cases. In 86 patients, foreign bode was displaced in the stomach using flexible endoscopy. Foreign body removing wasn’t successful in 4 cases. In 2 patients, extraction was followed by esophageal wall damage. In 4 patients, esophagotomy was applied to extract foreign body. Suturing the esophageal wall defect was carried out in 2 cases. Abrasion and erosive esophagitis were the most common injuries of esophageal mucosa. Esophageal diseases were detected in 75 cases after foreign body removal (67 cases — benign esophageal diseases). One patient died from bedsore of innominate artery complicated by acute hemorrhage.
CONCLUSION
Foreign bodies of the upper gastrointestinal tract are observed in 45% of patients at admission. Neck and chest X-ray examination is obligatory before endoscopy. Flexible endoscopy is a gold standard for diagnosis and extraction of foreign bodies. Repeated endoscopy after foreign body extraction should be mandatory. It is necessary to visualize complications associated with foreign body and identify esophageal diseases.
