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Approach to Foreign Body Ingestion, Food Impaction, and Caustic Injury

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GI Endoscopic Emergencies

Abstract

Foreign body ingestion and food impaction are conditions that may require prompt endoscopic therapy. Although the majority of ingested foreign bodies will eventually pass through the gastrointestinal tract, early intervention is necessary in some cases to prevent complications and alleviate symptoms. Although complications from ingested foreign bodies and impacted food boluses are rare, they can be severe, including aspiration, perforation, obstruction, and fistula and stricture formation. In addition, caustic injury from ingestion of acid or alkali is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality, especially in children. Early recognition, timely endoscopic evaluation of the degree of injury, and prevention of life-threatening complications are critical in triaging patients for either supportive or more invasive surgical intervention. Herein, the prevalence, predisposing factors, clinical presentation, and initial management of these gastrointestinal emergencies are highlighted. Specific endoscopic tools and techniques in managing ingested foreign bodies and food impaction are reviewed in a separate chapter. Suggested algorithms for the management of foreign body ingestion and food impaction are outlined.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Emmanuel C. Gorospe, Louis M. Wong Kee Song & Prasad G. Iyer

  2. Center for Digestive Health, Prevea Health & Hospital Sisters Health System, 1726 Shawano Ave, Green Bay, WI, 54307, USA

    Emmanuel C. Gorospe

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  1. Emmanuel C. Gorospe
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  2. Louis M. Wong Kee Song
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  3. Prasad G. Iyer
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Correspondence to Emmanuel C. Gorospe .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Louis M. Wong Kee Song

  2. Medical College of Wisconsin-Green Bay Campus, Prevea Center for Digestive Health, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA

    Emmanuel C. Gorospe

  3. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Todd H. Baron

Electronic Supplementary Material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Retained capsule endoscope in the ileum removed via double-balloon enteroscopy (MP4 16177 kb)

Endoscopic removal of food bolus impaction (MP4 12332 kb)

Endoscopic appearance of severe esophageal caustic (lye) injury (MP4 7435 kb)

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Gorospe, E.C., Song, L.M.W.K., Iyer, P.G. (2016). Approach to Foreign Body Ingestion, Food Impaction, and Caustic Injury. In: Wong Kee Song, L., Gorospe, E., Baron, T. (eds) GI Endoscopic Emergencies. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3085-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3085-2_7

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