Pediatric Foreign Body Ingestion: Analysis of Patient Characteristics and Surgical Treatment

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common occurrence in children. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients hospitalized in the pediatric surgery department for FB ingestion and those requiring surgical treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed pediatric patients admitted to the department of pediatric surgery at a single center for FB ingestion from June 2018 to September 2023. Overall, 35 patients were included. Results: The median age was 25.0 months (range: 7-204 months), with male predominance. Forty percent (14/35) of patients presented with symptoms at admission, including abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever; ingestion was unwitnessed in 42.9%. The median number of ingested FBs was 2.0 (range: 1-25), with magnets being the most common type (51.4%). Surgery was required in 51.4% of cases due to complications or impaction. These cases showed significantly higher symptomatic presentation rates (72.2% vs. 5.9%, p < 0.01), unwitnessed ingestion (66.7 vs. 17.6%, p = 0.006), and more ingested FBs (median 5.0 vs. 1.0, p = 0.001). Magnet ingestion was more frequent in these patients. Conclusions: FB ingestion predominantly affects young male children. Magnet ingestion frequently requires surgical intervention, underscoring the importance of preventive measures and safer environments. Surgical treatment should be considered in patients with symptomatic presentation, multiple ingested objects, or an uncertain ingestion history.