Foreign body removal

Abstract

Foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract may be the result of intentional ingestion of household objects, unintentional food impaction, or a migrated gastrointestinal device. Managing these foreign bodies hinges on the patient history, physical characteristics of the foreign body, and an assessment of risk for complications. When endoscopic intervention is indicated, determining the timing to intervention and a retrieval strategy are needed. There are many endoscopic retrieval devices and techniques developed to suit the diverse circumstances encountered in gastrointestinal foreign bodies. This chapter discusses the current management and endoscopic retrieval strategies for gastrointestinal foreign bodies.