| Theme |
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Children |
| Title |
Role of Pediatric Endoscopy for a Foreign Body in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract |
| Author |
Tomoki Hiramoto |
Department of Endoscopy, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital |
| Author |
Chiyuki Watanabe |
Department of Endoscopy, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital |
| Author |
Masaaki Sumioka |
Department of Endoscopy, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
In the field of pediatric endoscopy, foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract are relatively common. Children tend to accidentally swallow easy‒to‒swallow items found in their environment. Almost all of these patients are preschool children less than 6 years of age, and more than half are children ages 3 years or younger. Nearly all foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract are excreted spontaneously ; however, cases of gastrointestinal perforation and obstruction have been reported. Physicians should immediately assess the urgency of endoscopic removal of foreign bodies based on their types, forms, locations, and the time elapsed since accidental ingestion. In addition, the gastrointestinal tracts of children have a narrow lumen with a thin and weak wall compared to adults, and a more careful procedure is therefore required for the endoscopic removal of foreign bodies in children. |