sharp object ingestion

The patient had an accidental ingestion of a fishbone. Depending on the severity of the obstruction, such patients can have a sudden onset of difficulty or inability to swallow oral secretions. They may also have a feeling or sensation of fullness, discomfort, or painful swallowing (odynophagia). Plain chest radiographs are useful in determining the exact location of the foreign body; however, certain objects, such as toothpicks or a fishbone, may not be easily visualized and can be missed on plain radiographs.

Most of the patients with a history of foreign body ingestion are asymptomatic and have a negative radiograph. Such patients do not need any further treatment. In all other symptomatic patients or patients with a history of sharp object ingestion (e.g., fish or chicken bone, toothpicks, needles, or pins), an urgent endoscopy should be performed to remove the foreign body and to prevent esophageal perforation.

Links to this note

• GI gastroenterology
  • sharp object ingestion