title: Ingested foreign bodies in the paediatric patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paediatric foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common problem and while most can be managed conservatively, a sub-population require intervention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish clear guidelines for management of paediatric FB ingestion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review analysing all paediatric admissions with FB ingestion over a 10-year period from 1990 to 1999.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 339 patients presenting to the accident and emergency department with FB ingestion, 59 required admission. Ingestion was accidental in 93.0% of patients. The reasons for admission were as follows: large FBs; dangerous FBs; and living far from the hospital. Nineteen patients (32.2%) were discharged without intervention. Thirty-seven (62.7%) required endoscopic retrieval. In two, the FB was not identified at endoscopy. Only three (5%) required surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative management of FB ingestion in the paediatric population is possible in the majority of cases. However, a minority require intervention. While guidelines for intervention are ill-defined, definitive indications include symptomatic patients, or dangerous objects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Kirwan
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Redmond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004064:Digestive System; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies