[Foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Personal experience].
OBJECTIVE
Foreign bodies ingestion is a potentially serious problem. The majority of ingested foreign bodies pass spontaneously, but serious complications, such as bowel perforation and obstruction, can occur. In the present work, we report our experience in the management of ingested foreign bodies.


METHODS
The study was observational and retrospective. We included in the study the foreign bodies ingestions occurred during urgent endoscopy (examination performed from 1 to 6 h by the call).


RESULTS
Records of 696 consecutive EGDS performed in urgency at the Unit of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy of the Hospital Sandro Pertini of Rome, from 01-02-'04 to 18-01-2006, were analyzed retrospectively. Out of these procedures, 21 (3.01%) were performed for suspected foreign bodies ingestion.


CONCLUSIONS
We present the initial report of our working experience. Objects that have passed the duodenum should be managed conservatively by radiographic surveillance and inspection of stool. Endoscopic or surgical approach is indicated when significant symptoms develop or if the object fails to progress through the gastrointestinal tract. The present data are in keeping with previous studies of the literature.
Zippi
M
M
Struttura Complessa di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Ospedale Sandro Pertini, Roma, Italia.
Febbraro
I
I
De Felici
I
I
Mattei
E
E
Pica
R
R
Traversa
G
G
Occhigrossi
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D041742:Upper Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology