Introduction

Foreign body ingestion accounts for an estimated 116,000 cases per year in the United States, with 75% occurring in children ≤5 years of age [1][2] . The vast majority (98%) of pediatric ingestions are accidental, involving common household objects such as coins, toys, jewelry, magnets, and batteries [3]. Coins remain the most commonly ingested foreign body, followed by button batteries and magnets, the latter two having increased in incidence over the past decade due to larger lithium cell sizes and the proliferation of high-powered neodymium magnets [1][2] .

The esophagus is the site of 50 to 75% of pediatric gastrointestinal foreign body impactions and has the highest risk of complications in the alimentary tract [4]. Typically 80 to 90% of ingested foreign bodies pass through the esophagus. However, complications of esophageal obstruction, tissue necrosis, perforation, tracheoesophageal and aortoesophageal fistulas can occur [5].

see also Gastrointestinal Foreign Bodiesand Upper Endoscopy

Content in this topic is referenced in SCORE EsophagoscopyAerodigestive Tract Foreign Bodies (Pediatric)

ingested coin

Impacted coin in the esophagus.