An ingested foreign body is any object (including food) originating outside the body and ingested into the mouth and through the gastrointestinal tract.
Key fact: Most ingested foreign bodies will pass through the GI tract without symptoms, but 10-20% require intervention and <1% develop serious complications.
Fiberoptic endoscopy for foreign body removal
Rigid endoscopy, Foley catheters, esophageal bougienage
Laparoscopic or open surgery when other techniques fail
Patients are unstable if they present with airway compromise, drooling, inability to tolerate fluids, evidence of sepsis, perforation, or active bleeding.
Management depends on type and location of foreign body, with endoscopic removal being primary approach.
Ingestion of multiple magnets or a magnet with metal object can cause significant injury. Magnet with button battery is a time-critical emergency.
Note: Neodymium magnets appear like ball-bearings on X-ray - be careful not to misdiagnose multiple magnets as single object.
Suitable for discharge if:
All discharged patients require follow-up imaging after 6-12 hours.
Patients with multiple magnets or symptoms require specialist pediatric surgical consultation.