Esophageal Foreign Body in Children: Clinical Features, Management Challenges, and Outcomes

OBJECTIVES: Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common problem in pediatric populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological, clinical features, and outcomes of pediatric esophageal foreign bodies ingestion with particular focus on complicated cases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all pediatric cases diagnosed with esophageal foreign body (EFB) from January 2014 to December 2022. We analyzed patient characteristics, foreign body types, sites and duration of impaction, clinical manifestations, treatment outcomes, and complications. RESULTS: Among the 95 cases, 56 were boys and 39 were girls, with a median age of 4 years (3-7 years). The average consultation delay was 6 hours. The most common symptom was dysphagia (30.5%). All patients had neck and chest X-rays. The upper esophagus was the most common site of impaction (62.1%). EFB included coins and blunt objects (87.4%), bones and sharp items (9.5%), and button batteries (2.1%). Ninety-four patients underwent rigid esophagoscopy, and foreign bodies were successfully removed in 75 cases. Complications occurred in 6.3% of cases, including minor mucosal lesions of the esophagus, bronchospasm, esophageal stenosis, and esophageal perforation. Main predictors of complications were sharp FB and button batteries. CONCLUSION: Rigid esophagoscopy remains an effective approach for foreign body removal in children. Clinicians should be mindful of these complications mainly in cases of sharp FB and button batteries. To prevent dangerous complications, it is essential to emphasize parental education and prompt and accurate diagnosis to opt for the suitable endoscopic approach.