ABSTRACT
Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract are a frequent cause of consultation in gastroenterology, and are associated with a non-negligent morbidity and mortality. A prospective, descriptive, and transversal study was performed in which clinical, radiological and endoscopic relevant data were collected of all the patients who consulted the emergency room of the Dr. Domingo Luciani General Hospital between June 2011 and June 2012 with the suspicion of foreign body ingestion. A total of 71 patients were evaluated, 41 males (57.74 %) and 30 females (42.25 %). Mean age 46.63 + 13.15. Accidental ingestion occurred in 95.77 %. Chicken and fish bones (59.15 %) predominated. Dysphagia (30.98 %) and odynophagia were the most frequent symptoms. Average time between admission and endoscopy: 9.11 + 6,012 hours. Endoscopic treatment was effective in 89.18 % of the cases. No foreign body was found in 43.93 % of cases. The snare and foreign body forceps were used in 47.05 % and 35.29 % of the cases. One patient died (1.40 %). About half of our patients did not have objective evidence of foreign body presence. Endoscopy is a useful method for the diagnosis and if it were necessary the retrieval of the foreign body
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