FOREIGN BODY INGESTION IN CHILDREN: 6-YEAR EXPERIENCE

The aim of this study was to present our series of patients diagnosed with foreign body ingestion, to compare our results with those from the literature, and to determine whether our management plan followed the established local guidelines. The study included 53 patients diagnosed with foreign body ingestion and admitted to pediatric emergency department of the Zagreb University Hospital Center between January 2004 and December 2009. There were 34 (64.15%) boys and 19 (35.85%) girls. The majority of ingested foreign bodies were localized distal to the esophagus (87.5%). Esophagus is the only localization that requires emergent or urgent intervention. Most of the foreign bodies were found in the stomach, as it is expected according to available data. In comparison with worldwide experience (10%-20%), we performed emergent or urgent endoscopy more frequently (67.92% of all patients; Fisher exact test, p=0.001). Such a frequent use of endoscopy is unnecessary. The risk of numerous complications by far exceeds the benefits, and it is reasonable to reduce the number of interventions. Our results confirm that observation is as good and efficient approach for the majority of cases of foreign body ingestion (except for sharp and long objects) in which foreign body is localized distal to the esophagus (chi(2)-test with Yates' correction 0.73; p=0.394).