Removal of foreign objects seen in the upper gastrointestinal tract with the help of endoscopy: A retrospective cohort study

Background/Aim: Delay in diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal (GI) tract foreign bodies may lead to serious complications. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the patients who underwent emergency upper GI endoscopy for foreign body ingestion in our clinic. Methods: Between 2015 and 2022, we evaluated 68 patients who underwent emergency upper GI endoscopy with a prediagnosis of foreign body ingestion. The evaluation included factors such as age, gender, presenting complaints, foreign body type, localization, and treatment parameters. Results: Out of the 68 patients included in the study, 21 (30.89%) were female, and the mean age was 54.00 years. Among them, 43 (63.23%) presented with no active complaints, 23 (33.82%) with dysphagia and odynophagia, and two (2.94%) with vomiting. The swallowed objects were classified as follows: coin (n=2), pin (n=5), battery (n=11), drug plaque (n=6), esophageal foreign body (n=7), piece of meat (n=5), chicken bone (n=4), fish bone (n=5), razor (n=7), lighter (n=3), and toothpick (n=1). The foreign bodies were located in the esophagus in 23 cases (33.82%), in the stomach in 32 cases (47.05%), and in the duodenum in one case (1.47%). For 12 patients (17.64%), the foreign body could not be detected endoscopically but was detected using radiologic methods. Among the foreign bodies, 54 (79.41%) were successfully removed. In one patient (1.47%) who could not be removed endoscopically and another patient (1.47%) who developed gastrointestinal perforation due to a foreign body (toothpick), a surgical procedure was performed. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of foreign body ingestion are crucial in preventing serious complications. Endoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure, can be a safe alternative to surgical procedures, which may carry higher morbidity and mortality risks.