ENDOSCOPIC REMOVAL OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL FOREIGN BODIES

Abstract

Endoscopic removal of various foreign bodies in upper were performed to 33 cases gastrointestinal tract during a recent 5 years at the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medical University. Excluding 6 cases of elimination by natural passage, endoscopic removal was tried in 27 cases ; removal was accomplished without any compli-cations in 24 cases, however there was a difficulty in other 3 cases where PTP (press-through-pack) pieces or dentures had lodged in the mucosa of the upper esophageal region. In those cases we prepared soft, elastic hood which was then attached to the open tip of the endoscope and, by encapsulating the sharp foreign body in the hood, the body was removed without injury to the mucosa, particularly on the oral side. Both sewing needles and PTP pieces were removed safely and without any complications. It is thought that, depending on the size and shape of the foreign body, simple and very safe endoscopic removal may be possible in cases of complications involving dangerous foreign bodies by using the hood-attachment method in addition to the selection of grasping forceps and positioning devices.