Esophageal foreign bodies in children: diagnosis, treatment, and complications.

Abstract

Early recognition and treatment of esophageal foreign bodies is imperative because the complications are serious and can be life-threatening. Radiology plays an important role in the initial diagnosis, in recognition of complications, and in treatment. The Foley catheter method of foreign body extraction can be used on some patients, but esophagoscopy remains the safest method of esophageal foreign body extraction.