Clinical Guidelines for Imaging and Reporting Ingested Foreign Bodies

Abstract

The characteristics of foreign bodies and predisposing bowel abnormalities affect the decision to follow ingested objects radiographically, perform additional imaging, or proceed with endoscopic or surgical removal.

Multifaceted Assessment of a Prisoner Ingesting Nine Batteries for Suicidal Purposes

“…Ingestion of foreign materials most commonly occurs in the pediatric population younger than 6 years of age or in adults 25 to 44 years of age, predominantly in males [6,7]. Malliwal et al [10] reported a 54-year-old male with a history of personality disorder who swallowed five AA batteries.…”

“…Patients present to the emergency room mostly with symptoms of epigastric pain, dysphagia and chest pain. Onethird of patients are reported to be asymptomatic [6]. If an ingested foreign object is radiopaque, it is often detected and readily diagnosed by plain radiography [2,7,8].…”

“…Ingested foreign objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously in 80-90% of the cases, with only 10 to 20% requiring endoscopic intervention and less than 1% requiring surgical intervention [5][6][7]. Ingestion of multiple AA batteries by adults is a highly unusual and rare mode of deliberate selfharm and it can also occur as a result of personality disorder or psychiatric illness or attention-seeking behavior as seen in prison inmates [9,10].…”

Plight by Wrong Passage: A case report and review of clinical and radiological findings of aspirated foreign bodies

“…6,7 Chest radiograph can be normal given most aspirated foreign bodies are radiolucent. Examples of radiolucent foreign bodies include food particles, some bones, wood, plastic, and thin metallic fragments.…”

“…Examples of radiolucent foreign bodies include food particles, some bones, wood, plastic, and thin metallic fragments. 6,7 Hyperinflation, obstructive emphysema, rib flaring, and flattening of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm are radiographic findings more commonly seen in children due to increased compliance of airways and ballvalve mechanism (On inspiration, bronchi expands and air can get past the foreign body. With expiration, the airway collapses around the foreign body, leading to trapping of air in distal lung).…”