The removal of foreign body ingestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract: a retrospective study of 1,182 adult cases

Background Foreign body (FB) ingestion in the gastrointestinal tract is a common and urgent problem observed in children and adults. However, there may be difficulty locating FBs and complications associated with their removal. This study aimed to identify risk factors and complications correlated to the presence and removal of FBs. Methods This 5-year retrospective study enrolled 1,311 patients between June 2014 and April 2019. Demographic and endoscopic data were collected, containing age, gender, types and location of FBs, duration of FB ingestion, accessory devices, endoscopic methods, and complications. Logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the predictive risk factors. Results Among 1,131 patients, FBs were found in 90.16% of cases. A major predictor for the presence of FB was a presentation of less than 24 hours (h). The types of FBs were jujube pits (36.72%) and fish bones (22.00%), and over 80% of the FBs were discovered in the esophagus. Complications were found in 239 cases (20.22%), of which hemorrhage (162/239, 67.78%) was the most frequent. Age ≥60, duration ≥24 h, and FBs ingested in the esophagus were considered as risk factors for developing complications. Conclusions In conclusion, the longer duration, age ≥60, and impaction in the esophagus were risk factors for developing complications following the ingestion of FBs. These factors should be considered when developing assessment and treatment plans in the management of FB ingestion.