Clinical and demographic analysis of foreign body ingestion cases admitted to the emergencv department

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who applied to the emergency department due to foreign body ingestion. Material-Method: The records of 171 patients who were admitted to the Dicle University Emergency Department between December 2018 and December 2020 due to foreign body ingestion were enrolled retrospectively. SPSS v26.0 statistical program was used in the analysis of the obtained data. Results: 171 patients were included in our study, with a mean age of 14.37±20.88 (R: 1 – 92 years) and a median age of 5 years. 47% (n=80) of the patients were female and 53% (n=91) were male. Mental retardation was found in 1 patient, other psychiatric disorders in 2 patients, and esophageal stenosis in 2 patients. 44% (n=76) of the patients applied to our emergency department after suspected foreign body ingestion without complaint. Rejection of food was found in 25% of the patients, a feeling of stuck in the throat in 8%, vomiting in 6%, abdominal pain in 6%, and retrosternal pain in 7%. The most common reason for admission was coins with an incidence of 42.7%. This was followed by food scraps 22%, needles 9%, and button batteries 7.6%. While multiple foreign body ingestion was detected in 5 patients (3%), single foreign body ingestion was detected in 97% of the patients. It was determined that the most common site of insertion of the foreign body was cricopharyngeal stenosis, which is the first stenosis of the esophagus (n=70, 40%). The second most common foreign body was detected in the ileal loops. 56% of all foreign bodies were located in the esophagus. X-Rays were taken in all patients. While 78 patients were followed non-operatively, endoscopy was performed in 90 patients and open surgery was performed in 4 patients. Food scraps (p=0.000, adjusted OR: 32) and coins (p=0.017, adjusted OR: 3.6) were found to be two independent indications for surgery. Conclusions: Foreign body ingestion is a risky situation ranging from being asymptomatic to a life-threatening scenario. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important in patients presenting with foreign body ingestion. The coin was the most frequently swallowed foreign body, and the most common presenting symptom was refusal to eat. The first diagnostic method for foreign body ingestion is X-Ray. The most common site of insertion of the foreign body is the physiological first narrow of the esophagus, and its treatment is endoscopy. Keywords: Foreign body ingestion, coin, magnet, needle, button battery, endoscopy