Usefulness of Flexible Endoscopy for the Management of Foreign Bodies of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract in the Emergency Room

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2010;10(2):55-59.
Published online December 10, 2010.

상부 위장관 이물을 호소하며 응급실을 내원한 환자에서 굴곡 내시경 검사의 유용성

강승주ㆍ양종인ㆍ강정묵ㆍ변희진*ㆍ강해연ㆍ정고은ㆍ임정윤ㆍ박민정ㆍ정현채^†ㆍ송인성^†

서울대학교병원 강남헬스케어센터 내과, 서울대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실*, 내과학교실, 간연구소^†

Abstract

Background/Aims
This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of flexible endoscopy for the management of foreign bodies of the upper gastrointestinal tract in the emergency endoscopic room. Methods: Endoscopic and clinical data gathered from 26 subjects who had visited the emergency room at Seoul National University Hospital complaining of ingested foreign body and had examined with the flexible endoscopy between 2005 and 2007 were studied. Results: Foreign body was found in 19 subjects (73.1%). All ingested foreign bodies were successfully removed under flexible endoscopy. Fish bone was the most commonly found object and alligator was the most commonly used device for foreign body removal. Esophagus was the most common lodging site of foreign bodies (68.4%). Fish bone was the most common foreign body (46.2%) and the alligator was the most common removal method (69.2%). Long impaction time was significantly associated with perforation (p=0.001). Subjects without perforation discharged within 24 hours without complication. Conclusions: As flexible endoscopy is very useful and safe method for evaluating and removing foreign bodies of the upper gastrointestinal tract, active evaluation with flexible endoscopy should be considered in subject complaining of foreign bodies of the upper gastrointestinal tract in the emergency room. (The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2010;10:55-59)

Key Words: Esophageal foreign body, Gastric foreign body, Flexible endoscopy, Endoscopic foreign body removal