Management of Ingested Foreign Bodies in Paediatric Patients: An Experience from a Tertiary Hospital in Ethiopia

Background: The problem of FB ingestion is commonly seen in young children, with most of the cases being aged between 6 months and 5 years. Oesophagoscopy is the gold standard for their management although McGill forceps, Fogarty catheter and bouginage may also be used when appropriate.
Methods: This was a retrospective study of paediatric patients presenting with features of FB ingestion at Black Lion Hospital between September 2011 and February 2013. A total of 85 cases were analyzed.
Results: A total of eighty five (61.5%) males and 33 (38.8) females with a mean age of 2.86 years were analyzed. Vomiting (70.6%) and difficulty in swallowing (50.6%) were the most common symptoms. Coins were the most commonly ingested FB items. Plain X-rays located 78.85% of FBs in the proximal oesophagus. The vast majority of patients (92.9%) had their FBs retrieved using McGill forceps. Foley’s catheter was used in 15 (17.6%) and Oesophagoscopy in 9 (10.6 %) cases
Conclusion: McGill’s forceps with the aid of a McIntosh laryngoscope is a safe and effective method for proximal oesophageal foreign body removal.