The ingestion or inhalation of foreign bodies is a common emergency in gastroenterology. They represent a major clinical challenge. Although often benign, they can lead to serious complications if not removed quickly and appropriately. Endoscopy, as a non-invasive and relatively safe method, has become the preferred tool for removing these foreign bodies. However, managing these situations requires a good understanding of the characteristics of the objects, the associated risks, and the extraction techniques available. 

The purpose of this article is to outline the various types of foreign bodies encountered in endoscopy, the potential complications, and the current methods used for their extraction.

This is a retrospective descriptive study conducted at the Hepatology-Gastroenterology Department “Medicine B” over a period of 36 months (January 2022 to January 2025). All patients who were hospitalized for voluntary or involuntary ingestion of foreign bodies are included. The data collected included age, gender, medical history, type of foreign body, its location, and the method used to extract it.

During the study period, 25 patients presented to our emergency department with foreign bodies. The median age was 47 years (range 20-74). The sex ratio was 1.27 (11 women to 14 men). The medical histories noted were hypertension in 3 patients (12%), chronic smoking in 4 patients (16%), diabetes in 2 patients (8%), and a history of caustic ingestion in only 1 patient (4%).

The average time taken to treat patients was 6 hours. 

Endoscopy revealed 15 food impactions (60%) (pieces of meat/chicken with or without bones or cartilage/fish bones), 3 metal keys (12%), four sharp objects (16%) (pieces of glass, needles), one nail clipper (4%), one lighter (4%), and one plastic denture (4%). As for the location of these various foreign bodies, 10 (40%) were between 18 and 25 cm AD, 2 (8%) were more than 30 cm AD, 7 (28%) were in the stomach (at the cardia, greater curvature, or fundus), and 6 (24%) were not found during FOGD.

The different extraction methods used were: 6 (24%)  pushback to the stomach, 4 (16%) extraction with a polyp snare, 5 (20%) extraction with foreign body forceps, 2 (8%) extraction with a basket snare, and 2 (8%)  extraction with rat tooth forceps. 

Among the population studied, two cases of failure were reported: the first was treated at a later stage after injection of 60 mg of IV corticosteroids; the second required surgical intervention.

Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies is a common but delicate procedure. Successful removal depends on the location, nature, and size of the object, as well as the speed of treatment. Possible complications highlight the importance of rapid and appropriate management to minimize risks.

Endoscopy remains an essential tool in the management of foreign bodies, allowing for rapid and effective intervention while minimizing the risks inherent in complications.