title: Management of oesophageal foreign bodies in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the pattern and outcome of management of retained oesophageal foreign bodies in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, January 1991 to December 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eight paediatric patients, aged 0-14 years managed for retained oesophageal foreign bodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The foreign bodies were removed endoscopically, using either a larynoscope or a rigid oesophagoscope, under general anaesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 108 patients, with a mean age of 3.0 +/- 0.8 years and age range of 23 days to 14 years. The male to female ratio was 1.5: 1. Sixty four (59.3%) patients were within 1-5 year age group. Coins constituted 79.6% of the retained foreign bodies. Over 90% of patients presented within the first four days of the incidence. The dominant complaints were drooling of saliva in 37 (40.2%) and difficulty in swallowing in 35 (38.1%) patients. The commonest sites of the foreign body retention were the upper third of oesophagus 52(48.2%) and the hypopharynx 36(33.3%). The main complications following the foreign body removal were oesophageal perforations 4(3.7%) and lacerations 16(15%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retained oesophageal foreign body is a common childhood health hazard. Early diagnosis and prompt skillful removal are necessary for a satisfactory outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, PMB 2076 Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Uba
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Sowande
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Amusa
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ogundoyin
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chinda
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Adeyemo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adejuyigbe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome