Emergency Department Management of Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Ingestion

Points & Pearls Excerpt

• An estimated 80%-90% of foreign body ingestions (FBIs) will pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract without complications, though a significant portion require endoscopic or surgical removal.^5-7,17-18
• The 3 areas of esophageal narrowing are: upper esophageal sphincter, aortic crossover, and lower esophageal sphincter. See Figure 2.
• In adults, ingestions are typically for fish or chicken bones or food bous impactions.