Foreign body removal

Foreign body removal by endoscopy is a procedure used to extract objects that have been swallowed or accidentally lodged in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.

It is commonly performed using a flexible endoscope, which is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and camera.

Indications for Endoscopic Foreign Body Removal

Swallowed Objects
- Food impactions (e.g., meat bolus in esophagus)
- Coins, buttons, or small toys (common in children)
- Sharp objects (e.g., fish bones, needles)
- Batteries or magnets (urgent removal needed)
Aspirated Objects
- Inhaled foreign bodies in the airway (usually require bronchoscopy, not standard endoscopy)
Other Situations
- Medical instruments or broken endoscopic accessories
- Iatrogenic objects (e.g., retained surgical material)

Procedure Steps

Preparation
- Patient evaluation (history, imaging like X-ray or CT scan if needed)
- Fasting (usually 6–8 hours before procedure)
- Sedation or general anesthesia (depending on the case)
Endoscopic Removal
- A flexible gastroscope or duodenoscope is inserted via the mouth.
- Various tools (forceps, snares, baskets, nets, or overtubes) help grasp and remove the object.
- If an object is too large, an endoscopic fragmentation technique may be used before removal.
Post-Procedure Care
- Observation for complications like perforation, bleeding, or infection.
- If the object caused damage (e.g., ulcers from batteries), further management may be needed.

Urgent Cases Requiring Immediate Endoscopic Removal

- Button batteries (risk of severe burns and perforation)
- Sharp objects (fish bones, needles, glass, razor blades)
- Large objects causing complete obstruction

Foreign body removal

Indications for Endoscopic Foreign Body Removal

Procedure Steps

Urgent Cases Requiring Immediate Endoscopic Removal

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