title: Foreign bodies.
abstract: The spectrum of gastrointestinal (GI) foreign bodies includes food bolus impaction in the esophagus, nonfood objects that are swallowed, and various objects that may be inserted into the rectum. The risk depends upon the type of object and its location. Fortunately, 80% to 90% of ingested foreign bodies will pass without intervention. Objects with sharp edges or pointed tips have the highest risk of complications, up to 35%. All objects impacted in the esophagus require urgent or emergent treatment. Rectal foreign bodies are usually removable transanally, although general anesthesia and operative intervention sometimes are required.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, Northwest, Washington, DC 20307, USA. milton.smith@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Milton T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Roy K H
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D004064:Digestive System; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors