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Background: Esophageal button battery ingestion is a significant problem that can lead to significant complications such as tracheoesophageal fistula, esophageal perforation, and aortoesophageal fistula. Due to this, prompt recognition and treatment is integral in the care of these patients., Methods: Patients who presented to a single institution from August 2015 to April 2022 with esophageal button battery ingestion were included in this study. All esophageal button battery ingestion patients were included in a clinical algorithm for Critical Airway Response Team (CART) activation in October 2019. Time from diagnosis to treatment was compared for pre-CART clinical algorithm implementation to post-CART., Results: Data on pre-CART patients (n = 6) and post-CART patients (n = 7) was collected. Including esophageal button battery ingestions to CART activations shortened the time from chest x-ray to button battery removal from 73 ± 32 min to 35 ± 11 min (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: These data highlight the importance of implementation of a clinical care algorithm to shorten the time from diagnosis to treatment in patients with esophageal button battery ingestion., Level of Evidence: III., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the management and outcomes of primary button battery ingestions and their sequelae at a single high-volume center, and to propose a risk score to predict the likelihood of a severe outcome., Methods: The medical record was queried for all patients under 21 years old evaluated at our institution for button battery ingestion from 2008 to 2021. A severe outcome was defined as having at least one of the following: deep/circumferential mucosal erosion, perforation, mediastinitis, vascular or airway injury/fistula, or development of esophageal stricture. From a selection of clinically relevant factors, logistic regression determined predictors of a severe outcome, which were incorporated into a risk model., Results: 143 patients evaluated for button battery ingestion were analyzed. 24 (17%) had a severe outcome. The independent predictors of a severe outcome in multivariate analysis were location of battery in the esophagus on imaging (96%), battery size >/ = 2 cm (95%), and presence of any symptoms on presentation (96%), with P < 0.001 in all cases. Predicted probability of a severe outcome ranged from 88% when all three risk factors were observed, to 0.3% when none were present., Conclusion: We report the presentation, management, and complication profiles of a large cohort of BB ingestions treated at a single institution. A risk score to predict severe outcomes may be used by providers initially evaluating patients with button battery ingestion in order to allocate resources and expedite transfer to a center with pediatric endoscopic and surgical capabilities., Level of Evidence: Level IV., Type of Study: Clinical Research Paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To explore the diagnostic approach and therapeutic method of migratory pharyngeal foreign bodies and related complications, to improve the understanding of such disease and to reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis., Material and Methods: A retrospective study was performed by collecting patients who were treated because of the related complications caused by migratory pharyngeal foreign bodies from 2012 to 2020., Results: A total of 20 patients were admitted to hospital due to the related complications. 14 cases showed cervical mass; 3 cases showed abscess of the mouth floor; 1 cases showed retropharyngeal abscess; 1 cases showed laryngeal granuloma; 1 cases showed mass of tongue. All patients received imaging examination of B-ultrasonography or computed tomography (CT). 19 patients were treated by surgery, and 1 patient was taken conservative treatment. All foreign bodies was successfully removed. As for the type of foreign bodies, there have 15 cases of fishbone, 2 cases of crabshell, 2 cases of shrimp shell, 1 cases of duck bone., Conclusions: Migrating foreign bodies and related complications are rare in clinic, much attention should be paid to avoid missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Bone impaction (BI) is a common cause for emergency room visits. Among foreign bodies, fish bone is considered the most common. The sensitivity of symptoms in predicting BI is relatively low, making imaging a central tool to aid diagnosis. Current imaging practices include both neck plain film radiography and none-contrast CT scans of the neck. We evaluated the accuracy of neck plain film radiography and CT scans of the neck for the diagnosis of BI., Methods: Retrospective review of all patients who presented to the emergency room between 2009 and 2016 with a suspicious history of BI whom underwent plain film neck radiography or CT. All Images were reviewed by two neuro-radiologist blinded to the clinical symptoms and findings. Symptoms, clinical findings and images results were compared to the final diagnosis., Results: 89 patients (30.7%), out of 290 patients who presented with complaints of BI, were diagnosed with BI. Mean age was 44.7 years old. Plain film neck radiography failed to predict BI (sen. 14.4%, spe 89.8% accuracy 63.2%), neck CT has an improved accuracy and sensitivity in locating BI (sen. 83.3%, spe. 94.1% accuracy 92.5%). Interobserver agreement between the two neuro-radiologists was moderate (0.46) and substantial (0.77) in neck radiography and CT images, respectively. Neck radiography missed 60 (out of 61) oropharyngeal BI's., Conclusion: Neck radiography has high inter-observer variability and low sensitivity for the diagnosis of BI. Neck CT should be the first imaging modality in patients with suspicious complaints for BI and negative physical exam., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Esophageal perforation caused by foreign body is common in Chinese medical institutions, and resultant deep neck infections (DNI) is quite different from typical DNI. The purpose of this article was to share our experience on management of this particular type of DNI., Material and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on a consecutive sample of such patients at Capital Medical University Beijing Friendship Hospital from 2015 to 2019., Results: In total, 24 cases were recorded. CT scan of the neck and upper thorax was the most useful tool for early diagnosis. Gas formation was not predictive of a worse clinical course. Eleven patients with minor DNI were treated with antibiotics and foreign body removal; while 13 patients with major DNI were treated with neck incision and drainage, ICU observation, and prolonged usage of antibiotics. Outcome was generally good, but major complications, including sepsis and lingual artery rupture, could occur., Conclusions: Conservative management, focusing on prompt extraction of esophageal foreign body and adequate antibiotic coverage, can lead to good outcome for mild cases; while in addition to these measures, neck incision, cervical and superior mediastinal exploration, and high negative pressure drainage, should be performed for severe cases., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Delayed diagnosis of children with Bronchial Foreign Body (BFB) leads to significant pulmonary complications and open surgery may not be avoided. However, surgical management for children with BFB is rarely reported. This study aims to describe our experience in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of late-diagnosed BFB during childhood., Methods: Medical records of 8 children who were diagnosed with BFB and underwent open surgery at Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2004 and June 2019 were retrospectively reviewed., Results: This group consisted of 8 children, with an average age of 8.1 years. In this group, the typical aspiration history was absent and the diagnosis of BFB was established in delay. The onset of diseases varied from 2 months to over 4 years. Lobectomy was performed in 7 patients and pneumonotomy was performed in 1 patient. No postoperative death was found. The clinical outcomes were satisfactory with an average 33 months follow-up., Conclusions: The diagnosis of BFB should be considered in children who present with repeated pneumonia and agnogenic bronchiectasis and actelectasis despite repeated medical treatment. Surgical treatment is necessary and effective in patients with either unextractable BFB or irreversible damage of lung tissue., Levels of Evidence: Level IV., Type of Study: Retrospective study., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We describe sialography as a dynamic imaging modality useful in establishing the diagnosis and planning for treatment of a parotid gland ductal foreign body., Methods: Chart and radiographic imaging review of a 75 year-old male who had obstructive sialadenitis symptoms two years after welding slag pierced the cheek skin and identified as a 'piece of steel stuck in his cheek'., Results: Sialography was used to demonstrate a foreign body adjacent to the parotid gland to indicate its presence as a mobile element within the ductal system associated with marked pre-obstructive duct dilation. Sialendoscopy was used to successfully remove the foreign body., Conclusions: In selected cases, the management of obstructive sialadenitis can be improved with sialography in permitting dynamic imaging of salivary duct anatomy. Although ultrasound has evolved as a standard component of salivary gland assessment, sialography may complement imaging with ultrasound (or CT as in this case) to offer the highest acuity definition of the salivary ducts., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Recurrent and acquired fistulae are a serious complication of congenital esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair and foreign body ingestion (FBI) (e.g., button battery). We report our experience with a minimally invasive approach to recurrent and acquired TEF., Methods: Medical records of patients referred for management of recurrent and acquired TEF between 2003 and 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients underwent endoscopic procedures (de-epithelization of fistulous tract and fibrin tissue adhesive-Tisseel R ) under general anesthesia., Results: Nine children (7 male, 2 female) with age range 3months to 3years (mean 1.5year) were managed. TEF closed spontaneously in four patients, whereas in 5 patients the TEF closed after combined endoscopic procedure. Three patients required repeat endoscopic procedures. Follow-up ranged between 7months to 10years (mean 4.2years)., Conclusions: Active observation and repeat combined endoscopic procedures are safe alternatives to open surgical repair of acquired and recurrent TEF., Level of Evidence: Level IV study., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Foreign bodies (FBs) may be unintentionally ingested, inhaled, or inserted into a body cavity or tissue, or may be due to traumatic or iatrogenic injury. They are frequently detected in clinical practice and emergency rooms. Early detection and prompt management are mandatory to avoid severe and life-threatening complications. Imaging plays an important role in confirming the presence and characterization of the FB, and its relationship with any affected organs. This article reviews commonly encountered FBs with regard to incidence, risk factors, mechanisms of entry, clinical presentation, associated complications, and typical imaging appearance in children., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/purpose: In pediatric cases of ingested foreign bodies, gastrointestinal foreign bodies (GIFB) have distinct factors contributing to longer and more costly hospitalizations., Methods: Patients admitted with ingested foreign bodies were identified in the Kids' Inpatient Database (1997-2009)., Results: Overall, 7480 cases were identified. Patients were most commonly <5years of age (44%), male (54%), and Caucasian (57%). A total of 2506 procedures were performed, GI surgical procedures (57%) most frequently, followed by GI endoscopy (24%), esophagoscopy (11%), and bronchoscopy - in cases of inhaled objects (9%). On multivariate analysis, length of stay increased when cases were associated with intestinal obstruction (OR=1.7), esophageal perforation (OR=40.0), intestinal perforation (OR=4.4), exploratory laparotomy (OR=1.9), and gastric (OR=2.9), small bowel (OR=1.5), or colon surgery (OR=2.5), all p<0.02. Higher total charges (TC) were associated with intestinal obstruction (OR=2.0), endoscopy of esophagus (OR=1.8), stomach (OR=2.1), or colon (OR=3.3), and exploratory laparotomy (OR=3.6) or surgery of stomach (OR=5.6), small bowel (OR=6.4), or colon (OR=3.4), all p<0.001., Conclusions: Surgical or endoscopic procedures are performed in approximately one third of GIFB cases. Associated psychiatric disorder or self-inflicted injury is seen in more than 20% of GIFB patients. Resource utilization is determined heavily by associated diagnoses and treatment procedures., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This is a case report of an acute small bowel obstruction in a 17-month-old girl with no significant past medical history. Computerized tomography (CT) of the abdomen demonstrated complete obstruction at the proximal jejunum as well as perplexing dilation and air-fluid levels within the distal jejunum beyond the initial obstruction. Imaging demonstrated no evidence of malrotation, volvulus, or intussusception, but a clear diagnosis was not evident. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and multiple foreign bodies that appeared to be rubber balls were found within the small bowel. This case study identifies important clinical and radiologic considerations when assessing infants for small bowel obstruction., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The treatment of perforating esophageal foreign body impaction (FBI) is complex and unclear. We present the outcome of surgical treatment of esophageal perforations due to FBI in children along with a management algorithm., Methods: During a period of 7 years, 7 cases of esophageal perforations due to foreign body (FB) ingestion were referred to our unit. We analyzed the FB types, lodging duration and location, complications, and the surgical approaches., Results: There were 4 male and 3 female patients. Mean age was 28 months (5 months-6 years). Six patients had metal FBs of variable shapes and 1 had glass marble. Three patients had witnessed history of FB ingestion. Duration of ingestion was variable and unknown in half of the patients. The site of impaction was cervical (1) and thoracic (5) esophagus. One patient had a marble as FB in the superior mediastinum. One patient manifested with features of perforation after removal of the impacted FB and 5 patients presented with perforations. Two patients presented with subcutaneous emphysema. One patient had trachea-esophageal fistula (TEF) after disc battery ingestion. Rigid esophagoscopy failed in 4 out of 6 patients. Five patients underwent thoracotomy, and repair with a pleural patch reinforcement. One patient had lateral esophagotomy in the cervical esophagus for removal of the impacted FB. Mediastinal FB was removed without opening the esophagus. All the patients were discharged uneventfully., Conclusions: Esophageal perforation following FBI is rare and requires prompt treatment. Surgical treatment tailored to the needs of individual patients is associated with a successful outcome and decreased morbidity., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Every form of medical and surgical treatment, even the most trivial one, carries with it some chance of complications. This risk is usually small, and the benefit of the treatment should clearly outweigh the risk. Treatment-related complications may occur, however, presenting either soon after the intervention or remote from it. In this review, the focus is on imaging findings of surgical materials used in abdominal surgery, and of a wide array of implanted abdominal devices. The pertinent complications of these devices and of retained surgical objects are highlighted and illustrated., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The incidence of button battery ingestions is increasing and injury due to esophageal impaction begins within minutes of exposure. We changed our management algorithm for suspected button battery ingestions with intent to reduce time to evaluation and operative removal., Methods: A retrospective study was performed to identify and evaluate time to treatment and outcome for all esophageal button battery ingestions presenting to a major children's hospital emergency room from February 1, 2010 through February 1, 2012. During the first year, standard emergency room triage (ST) was used. During the second year, the triage protocol was changed and Trauma I triage (TT) was used., Results: 24 children had suspected button battery ingestions with 11 having esophageal impaction. One esophageal impaction was due to 2 stacked coins. Time from arrival in emergency room to battery removal was 183minutes in ST group (n=4) and 33minutes in TT group (n=7) (p=0.04). One patient in ST developed a tracheoesophageal fistula. There were no complications in the TT group., Conclusions: The use of Trauma 1 activations for suspected button battery ingestions has led to more expedient evaluation and shortened time to removal of impacted esophageal batteries., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Common medical interventions performed by cardiologists, radiologists, surgeons, dentists, and alternative practitioners can result in complications within the thorax that lead to significant patient morbidity. Prompt radiologic identification of iatrogenic complications of medical procedures in the thorax is essential to guide patient triage and treatment. Understanding the approach to common thoracic interventions and the placement of thoracic medical devices can aid radiologists in the evaluation of iatrogenic complications., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Foreign body impactions in the aerodigestive tract are common, but have the potential for serious complications. A foreign body may disrupt the mucosal lining and migrate regionally thereby risking impingement or injury to critical neurovascular structures in the cervical region. It is important to recognize potential complications that may arise from luminal compromise. In such cases, expeditious surgical treatment is warranted., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Children frequently present for suspected foreign body aspiration, many have mild symptoms and/or negative radiographs raising the question of a radiolucent foreign body aspiration., Method: Retrospective review of patients having bronchoscopy for suspected radiolucent foreign body aspiration from 2000 to 2010 collecting demographics, history, hospital presentation, radiographic, and operative details. Pearson's correlation was used between event history, presentation, radiographic details and bronchoscopically identified foreign body with P value <0.01., Results: 138 patients, mean age 2.6 years, mean weight 15.6 kg, 68% male. Event symptoms: 81% witnessed events, 64% wheezing, 43% coughing, 39% choking, 6% stridor, and 0.7% lethargy. Hospital presentation: 70% persistent symptoms, wheezing 56%, coughing 15%, desaturations 11%, stridor 7%, choking 4%, and lethargy 1%. 92% of patients had a chest x-ray; air trapping found in 38%, and lung collapse in 21%. 2 patients received CT scans; 1 had lung collapse. Bronchoscopy identified foreign bodies in 93% of patients: food 68%, plastic 18%, non-descript 11%, rocks 3%. No correlations between event symptoms, hospital presentation, radiographs and foreign body presence., Conclusion: Event history, hospital presentation, and radiographs are insufficient in proving the absence of a radiolucent foreign body. Patients with suspected radiolucent foreign body aspiration should undergo diagnostic bronchoscopy prior to discharge., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of devastating complications from button battery ingestions is increasing. Battery impactions may result in erosive esophagitis, tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), esophageal strictures, spondylodiscitis, vocal cord paralysis due to paralysis of recurrent laryngeal nerve(s), and aortoesophageal fistulas with significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case of a 15 month old boy who developed an acquired TEF secondary to ingestion of a 20mm button battery lodged at the level of the carina. The clinical course and imaging findings are reviewed. Serial limited CT imaging with 3-D reconstruction was helpful in noninvasive assessment of healing and clinical decision making. Of special interest are the negative initial esophagram and the healing of the fistula without the need for surgical intervention., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Esophageal foreign body impaction (EFBI) is a rare condition in childhood which needs urgent removal. However, if left untreated, its chronic impaction may lead to serious secondary complications. Symptoms associated with chronic EFBI are attributed to airway disease or gastroesophageal reflux, which further delays definitive diagnosis and management. We present a girl with ingestion of a bottle cap diaphragm that was embedded in her esophagus resulting in esophageal narrowing and a secondary diverticulum formation. As the disk was unable to be removed using standard grasping forceps, the authors used an injector needle to impale the disk and successfully removed it without any complications., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema are rare presentations of an airway foreign body. Only a handful of other cases have been reported in the English literature. We present a case of a 2 year old female who presented with wheezing and a dry cough. Following a breathing treatment with a non-rebreather mask, she developed right sided facial subcutaneous emphysema. The following day, after an episode of crying, the subcutaneous emphysema rapidly progressed to involve the anterior chest wall, shoulders, neck and face. Rigid bronchoscopy was emergently performed and a ball-valving, soft foreign body was removed from the right bronchus. A chest tube was placed, and the patient was successfully extubated the following day. When faced with a pediatric patient presenting with subcutaneous emphysema or pneumomediastinum of unknown origin, the pediatrician and otolaryngologist should consider the possibility of an airway foreign body. Management involves emergent airway evaluation in the operating room, removal of the foreign body, placement of a chest tube if pneumomediastinum is present, and supportive care with reflux medications and intravenous steroids., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: This study sought to summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children to effectively reduce complications and mortality., Methods: The medical records of 1024 pediatric patients admitted to our hospital from January 1997 to September 2011 and diagnosed with clinically suspected tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration were retrospectively analyzed., Results: Of the 1024 children patients, 674 were boys (65.8%) and 350 girls (34.2%). Two died of respiratory and circulatory failure (foreign bodies detected upon bronchoscopy but not retrieved) before surgery, 65 patients underwent direct bronchoscopic removal of foreign bodies due to their critical status, and 957 received chest radiographs and chest fluoroscopy or multidetector spiral computed tomographic scans (941 positive). Foreign bodies were expectorated before surgery in 3 cases. There were 953 cases of bronchoscopically proven airway foreign body aspiration, with a diagnostic accuracy of 94.5%. Ninety-eight foreign bodies were lodged in the main bronchus and/or bilateral bronchi, 506 in the right main bronchus, and 349 in the left main bronchus. Atelectasis was noted in 42 patients, including 11 with pulmonary consolidation, whose lungs were re-expanded by endobronchial lavage and sputum aspiration. In 3 patients with bronchiectasis, conservative treatment following foreign body removal was followed by no improvement, and pulmonary lobectomy was performed. Foreign bodies were successfully extracted at the first bronchoscopic attempt in 948 cases, accounting for 99.7% of the total. However, 3 patients had to undergo another bronchoscopy to remove the foreign bodies. The most common types of foreign bodies were peanuts, melon seeds, and beans., Conclusions: Timely accurate diagnosis and treatment of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children can avoid delay in treatment and effectively reduce complications and mortality., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Accidental ingestion of foreign bodies is a common emergency in the pediatric population. The foreign body generally passes through the whole gastrointestinal system spontaneously without causing an obstruction. This is the first case report in the literature of Hirschsprung disease associated with a radio-opaque foreign body lodged at the site of a perforated sigmoid colon. This case highlights the fact that, in the case of an impacted radio-opaque foreign body in a child, the possibility of an obstructive congenital anomaly should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Foreign body ingestion occurs most commonly in the pediatric population. Small bowel obstruction is a rare complication that can occur, and surgical intervention is required. We present the first report of a case of an 18-month-old child with a jejunal obstruction caused by ingestion of water-storing gel beads used for botanical arrangements. The child presented with obstipation and nonbloody, nonbilious emesis. Symptoms resolved after a large bead 3 cm in diameter was retrieved via laparoscopic-assisted excision. This case suggests that water-storing gel beads are particularly dangerous foreign bodies and should be kept out of the reach of children., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Children often place nonedible objects into their mouths. Occasionally, these objects are inadvertently swallowed, and fortunately, the majority passes spontaneously without intervention. We present the case of a 10-month-old girl who presented with an incarcerated Richter hernia through an indirect inguinal defect containing a wall of sigmoid colon perforated by a swallowed lollipop stick. Although this is a rare case, we conclude that prompt laparoscopic abdominal exploration is an extremely valuable tool in making an accurate diagnosis in difficult-to-reduce or incarcerated hernia cases., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A thyroid abscess is a rare condition, and it is so infrequently encountered. A migrated fish bone is a rare otolaryngologic emergency indicated when the foreign body penetrates through the esophageal mucosa into the thyroid gland space of the neck after several weeks of swallowing. We present the case of a 50-year-old woman who had fever and anterior neck painful mass. An intrathyroid abscess was diagnosed; and she underwent thyrotomy with transcervical approach. A foreign body, which proved to be a fish bone and which fortunately did not cause any adverse effects, was removed., (Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to explore the conservative management for an unusual case of transnasal intracranial injury. A 3-year-old female child presenting with transnasal injuries after a domestic accident whereby she apparently fell while holding a large pair of scissors, which then penetrated her left nasal cavity, piercing her nasal cavity, ethmoid sinus, and skull base. The scissors were removed from her nasal cavity. The patient had scant cerebrospinal rhinorrhea and no other additional neurologic deficits noted at the time, as well as no long-term developmental deficits. This report highlights the occurrence of this rare condition. The role of radiologic studies such as computed tomographic scans and plain films in diagnosis and management of this case is affirmed. The strategy of minimally invasive treatment of this injury can be a reasonable treatment option., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ingestion of a button battery has been considered a serious problem, causing necrosis and perforation, when impacted in the esophagus. However, such batteries in the stomach rarely cause any harm to the gastric wall, which is regarded as evidence supporting the use of conservative treatment. We present the rare case of a 3-month-old infant with severe gastric wall injury caused by a button battery lodged in the stomach. The present case suggests that button batteries located in the stomach should be removed as soon as possible, especially in infants., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Foreign body aspiration is common in children, but there are no clinical clues that can determine or rule out the diagnosis before entering the operating room for bronchoscopy. The purposes of our study were to define the clinical characteristics of foreign body aspiration in the pediatric population and to evaluate the significance of delay in its diagnosis and treatment., Methods and Results: The study used a retrospective review of 136 charts of children up to the age of 16 who underwent bronchoscopy for foreign body removal for 10 years in Ha'Emek Medical Center (Afula, Israel). An adult witness of an aspiration episode (most frequent presenting symptom), a child younger than 2 years, and an abnormal plain chest radiography were found to be significant predictors of foreign body aspiration. Estimated risk for foreign body aspiration was significantly higher in children who were younger than 2 years with an eyewitness for the aspiration episode and abnormal chest radiography (odds ratio, 5.6, with confidence interval from 2.0 to 15.6). The rate of complication was 2-fold higher in patients who arrived at the hospital 2 days or more after the aspiration compared with patients who arrived earlier. The rate of complication was 2-fold higher in patients who underwent bronchoscopy 24 hours or more after arrival at the emergency department compared with patients who underwent bronchoscopy within the first 24 hours., Conclusion: Delayed arrival of a child with a suspected foreign body aspiration at the hospital and delayed bronchoscopy were found to be related to a higher rate of complication., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We present a case report of a 14-month-old girl who ingested a moth cocoon, which resulted in dramatic symptoms of irritability, drooling, and anorexia. Direct laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, and esophagoscopy under general anesthesia revealed copious, tenaciously adherent, barbed hairs embedded in her tongue and buccal mucosa. Removal of the hairs with irrigation, suction, and brushing was unsuccessful and was eventually abandoned. In the following 48 hours, the girl recovered uneventfully with supportive care. The hairs were subsequently identified as coming from the hickory tussock moth (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae: Lophocampa caryae), which is ubiquitously distributed throughout much of North America. This is the first detailed case report of ingestion of an L caryae cocoon., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Small intestinal volvulus beyond infancy is rare and usually has an iatrogenic cause. The authors describe an adolescent boy with small bowel volvulus secondary to the presence of free intraperitoneal surgical staples after a laparoscopic appendectomy.

Accidental ingestion of foreign objects by teenagers or young adults without mental impairment is a rare event. We present a case of a patient who unintentionally swallowed a ballpoint pen several days before seeking medical attention. She concealed the event until abdominal radiographs revealed the foreign object. Because swallowed foreign objects can be potentially harmful, they should be removed endoscopically as soon as possible to prevent development of complications. At times, they need to be removed operatively. This report describes the laparoscopic removal of a ballpoint pen that perforated the duodenum.

Although coin cell battery ingestion is usually not associated with adverse consequences, case reports have been published that describe serious morbidity and occasional mortality. This report describes 2 young children developing serious complications from unwitnessed Lithium coin cell ingestion. A 19-month-old developed an aortoesophageal fistula from the proximal descending aorta, whereas the other developed bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Massive bleeding from the aortoesophageal fistula occurred 10 days post battery removal, resulting in a fatal outcome despite maximal surgical efforts. The patient with bilateral vocal cord paralysis required tracheostomy for airway stridor but is recovering function. This report adds to the evidence that primary prevention efforts are needed to caution parents about the dangers associated with coin cell batteries, and secondary prevention can be improved by raising awareness among clinicians as to the various clinical presentations and therapeutic options for this condition.

The widespread popularity of magnetic toy sets has resulted in increased reports of magnet ingestion and subsequent complications. Traditional algorithms for ingested foreign bodies have advocated passage of these objects through the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously. In regard to magnet ingestion, the unique mechanism of pathogenesis, attraction of 2 or more magnets across multiple loops of bowel, has led to several cases of intestinal perforation caused by bowel wall erosion and necrosis between the magnets. Unfortunately, a misdiagnosis and misconception that a solitary magnet has been ingested may lead to a delay in diagnosis and subsequent severe and possibly preventable complications. We report a case in which a child presented having thought to have ingested a solitary magnetic toy from a magnet construction set. This resulted in the premature discharge from the hospital and the patient's subsequent return with an intraabdominal perforation resulting in an emergency laparotomy. The recent increase of case reports related to magnet ingestion has resulted in proposed treatment regimens for patients ingesting multiple magnets. We would also initiate the magnet algorithm if even presumably a single magnet was ingested. This would include close observation and early intervention, either with endoscopy or surgical exploration, which would theoretically prevent the more severe complications, reported in the literature.

The authors report a child with tracheoesophageal fistula secondary to disk battery ingestion. With respiratory compromise precluding expectant therapy and primary repair not achievable, gastric interposition and tracheal patch repair were undertaken in the acute phase. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of primary gastric interposition for traumatic tracheoesophageal fistula and suggest that immediate reconstruction can give an outcome at least as good as other reported approaches.

We report a rare case of vocal cord fixation caused by a fish bone in the hypopharynx. The patient was a 72-year-old woman. She presented with hoarseness that had appeared suddenly while eating baked fish. The diagnosis was suggested by a clinical history and confirmed by a computed tomography scan. The fish bone was removed via microlaryngoscopic operation under general anesthesia. The restoration of her vocal cord mobility required a few months. Vocal cord fixation is an extremely rare complication of a pharyngeal foreign body. In all of the few cases reported previously, the fixation was caused by mechanical obstruction of vocal cord movement or by recurrent nerve palsy secondary to inflammation. Our case is not typical of mechanical or inflammatory fixation. It is possible that the recurrent nerve was damaged directly by the fish bone.

A case of a foreign body lodged in the nasopharynx for a long time as a complication of adenotonsillectomy is presented. The patient was an 11-year-old boy admitted with nasal obstruction and bilateral foul-smelling purulent rhinorrhea. The diagnosis was confirmed with nasal endoscopy. Immediate removal of foreign body in the nasopharynx was performed under general anesthesia. Although foreign bodies lodged into the nasopharynx are rare, they may cause serious and even fatal complications. A high index of suspicion, particularly for persistent symptoms, is essential and necessitates further investigation before diagnosis of a case of rhinosinusitis or empirically prescribing antibiotics.

This article highlights the difficulties posed by initial radiological investigations that misleadingly interpreted a linear opacity in the ascending colon of a 2-year-old to be a complicating calcified Ascaris. Final surgical management revealed an unusual cause for the tram tracking effect so pathognomonic of Ascaris infestation. Of interest are the images of the abdominal x-ray, ultrasound scan, and barium study.

We report a patient in whom a twig entered the vestibule via the external auditory meatus and was removed surgically. The patient was an 11-year-old boy who sustained a penetrating injury to his ear when he was rock climbing. Vertigo and hearing loss developed immediately. The vertigo improved over time. As it recurred, however, exploratory tympanotomy was performed 17 days after the accident. A piece of wood about 8 mm long was found to have penetrated the vestibule from in front of the stapes. This foreign body was removed and the vestibular fistula was closed. Although the patient's vertigo resolved after the operation, his hearing did not improve.

Gastrobronchial fistulous communications are uncommon complications of disease processes with only 36 previously reported cases. Described as complication of a number of conditions, such as previous gastroesophageal surgery, subphrenic abscess, and gastric ulcers (Jha P, Deiraniya A, Keeling-Robert C, et al. Gastrobronchial fistula--a recent series. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Sur 2003;2:6-8), we report a case of fistulization caused by ingestion of a foreign body. A patient with mental retardation, admitted for the treatment of osteomyelitis, presented during hospitalization symptoms of high fever, vomiting, and respiratory distress. Endoscopy showed the presence of a gastrobronchial fistula, which developed after ingestion of a toothbrush. The toothbrush was extracted endoscopically, and the fistula was subsequently closed by surgery. The patient recovered completely. We report the first case of a gastrobronchial fistula as a complication of foreign body ingestion.

Rectal impalement involves foreign body trauma to the anus or rectum resulting in intra- or extraperitoneal rupture. Evaluation of suspected rectal impalement injury involves careful history and physical examination. Ruling out rectal perforation in patients with reported impalement is critical even if there is no evidence of trauma to the perineum. There are few reports on pediatric impalement and only 1 reported case of pediatric rectal impalement with bladder rupture. We report a rectal impalement with extraperitoneal bladder injury in a 12-year-old boy and review the literature on treatment of these injuries.

Objective: The aims of the study were to evaluate duration of symptoms, clinical manifestation, radiological findings, fibrobronchoscopic findings, and the complications of airway foreign body (FB)., Methods: A retrospective review of 304 children who had airway FB removed via fibrobronchoscopy from January 1997 to June 2003 was conducted in the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China. Two hundred eight boys and 96 girls were included. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 11 years, and the median was 18 months., Results: Three patients died; 81.24% of the patients had a history of FB aspiration, and the most frequent clinical manifestation was paroxysmal coughing (89.25%). Positive radiological findings were found in 90.13% of patients, and the most common type of FB was peanut (35.53%). Serious complication of lung was found in 65 patients, and the associated factors were age, sex, and times of fibrobronchoscopy and location of FB in the right or left lung., Conclusions: FB aspiration remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood. Education aimed at increasing diagnostic acumen of the physicians and heightening of public awareness are the most important steps needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality.

Foreign body ingestion is frequent in children and generally associated with little morbidity. However, some foreign bodies are innocent when ingested as a single object, but may have harmful effect if numerous. We report a 9-year-old girl who swallowed 5 magnets, causing acute intestinal obstruction. At laparotomy, 2 magnets were found in the cecum and 3 in the transverse colon, attracting each other and clasping a segment of ileum in between, causing a complete obstruction of the small intestine. If numerous magnets are ingested, particular concern is advised, and if signs of intestinal distress develop, prompt laparotomy to prevent serious gastrointestinal complications should be performed.

Esophageal foreign bodies are frequently encountered in the pediatric population, and a high degree of suspicion should be maintained in the setting of postprandial dysphagia. We report the case of a 14-year-old boy with a penetrating esophageal injury after the accidental ingestion of a wire bristle from a grill brush.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of clinical symptoms, signs, and radiological studies in the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children., Methods: During the 2-year study, we performed on all children admitted to the pediatric department for suspected FBA a protocol that included the following: thorough medical history, physical examination, radiological studies (chest x-ray and fluoroscopy), and rigid bronchoscopy by a senior otolaryngologist. The yield of these measures for the diagnosis of FBA was evaluated., Results: Foreign bodies were found in 56 (57%) of the 98 children with suspected FBA. Thirty-three (59%) children were boys and 23 (41%) girls (P < .05), with a mean age of 24 months (range, 8-84 months). Main symptoms in the children with FBA were the following: choking (76.8%), prolonged cough (14.3%), dyspnea (3.6%), and nonresolving pneumonia (1.8%). Physical examination, chest x-ray, and fluoroscopy findings were abnormal in 80.4%, 67.9%, and 46.9% of the children with FBA, respectively. The diagnostic yield of physical examination and radiological studies increased 24 hours after the event of FBA. In 45.2% of the children with positive history but with normal findings from physical examination and radiological studies, foreign bodies were found. Of the children with "doubtful" history, physical examination, chest x-ray, and fluoroscopy findings were abnormal in 58%, 38%, and 12.5%, respectively. Foreign bodies were found in 9.5% of these children., Conclusion: Medical history is the key for the diagnosis of FBA. Choking followed by an acute episode of coughing is the most common presentation of FBA. The yield of physical examination and radiological studies in the diagnosis of FBA is relatively low but is increased when the presentation is delayed and when history is doubtful. If FBA is suspected, bronchoscopy should be performed.

In the pediatric literature, only 1 case of cervical spondylodiscitis from an ingested foreign body is reported and this was caused by a blunt radiolucent foreign body. The authors now describe a unique case of a 13-year-old teenaged boy who presented with neck pain 6 days after accidental ingestion of a sewing pin. Uncomplicated removal of this pin was followed in 36 days by the development of cervical spondylodiscitis that failed conservative management and required surgical debridement and arthrodesis. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of this complication in any patient that presents with neck pain after foreign body ingestion.