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Foreign Body, Swallowed, Adult


About this topic


Swallowing an object that is not food is called foreign body ingestion. Some people swallow things on purpose. Other times it happens on accident. Those who most often swallow an object are: ‚  
  • Adults with mental health problems
  • People with drug or drinking problems
  • People who wear false teeth
  • Prisoners
  • Drug smugglers

People often swallow coins, button batteries, or false teeth. Some people swallow pins, tacks, or toothpicks. Others swallow seeds, fruit pits, or fish or chicken bones. The object may get stuck in the tube that joins your mouth to your stomach. This is your esophagus. Most of the time, what you have swallowed passes through your stomach and bowels without causing any problems. ‚  

What are the causes?


  • Accidentally swallowing things like toothpicks and false teeth
  • Food tube is narrow or has some other problem that causes food to get stuck
  • People with mental problems may swallow objects that are out of the ordinary
  • Prisoners may swallow foreign bodies because they are trying to hide them from prison guards. They may swallow something because they want a reason to be moved to a hospital.
  • Drug smugglers swallow condoms or balloons. These are filled with illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin.

What are the main signs?


  • Throat or neck:
    • Trouble or pain when swallowing
    • Drooling
    • Sense of fullness
    • Sore throat
    • Choking or gagging
  • Lungs:
    • Trouble breathing
    • Coughing
    • Wheezing
    • Chest pain
  • Belly pain or throwing up
  • Fever

How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?


Your doctor will take your history and will do an exam. ‚  
The doctor may order: ‚  
  • X-ray ¢ ˆ ’ A test that takes a picture of your neck, chest, or belly. Many objects that are swallowed can be seen on an x-ray.
  • Barium swallow ¢ ˆ ’ You will be asked to drink a thick liquid called barium, which helps the object be seen. This study is used to find objects in the food tube.
  • CT scan ¢ ˆ ’ A special x-ray study that uses a computer to take pictures of your body. It is very helpful for finding objects in your food tube, stomach, and bowels, called the GI tract.
  • Endoscope ¢ ˆ ’ A bendable tube with a light at the end that lets your doctor look into your esophagus. This method can also be used to take out the swallowed object.
  • Metal detector ¢ ˆ ’ A handheld metal detector can be used to find a foreign object that is made of metal, such as a coin.
  • Ultrasound ¢ ˆ ’ A test that is helpful in finding drug packets that have been swallowed.

How does the doctor treat this health problem?


Treatment depends on the type of foreign body and where it is found in your GI tract. Some choices are: ‚  
  • Endoscopy ¢ ˆ ’ A tube with a light and camera at the end is used to find the object in your GI tract and then to remove it. It is often used to remove sharp or pointed objects that can poke a hole in your GI tract.
  • Foley catheter method ¢ ˆ ’ A thin tube with a balloon on the end is placed behind the object. The balloon is then blown up and the tube is slowly taken out, drawing out the object with it.
  • Bougienage method ¢ ˆ ’ A bougie is a tool that is used to push an object into your stomach so it can pass through the rest of the GI tract without a problem.
  • Drugs can be used to relax the end of the food tube, which lets the object pass into the stomach. Then it can move through the bowels and out of the body. Drugs may also be given to keep you from getting an infection.
  • Observation ¢ ˆ ’ Most things you swallow will pass through the GI tract without causing harm once they have reached the stomach. The doctor may tell you to eat and drink if the object is in your stomach. You may need to check your stools each day until the object passes.
  • Surgery may be needed if many objects are swallowed at once, or if the object is very large. Surgery may also be done to look for problems in the GI tract that the object may have caused.

Button batteries can cause special problems. A button battery that is stuck in your food tube needs to be removed right away. If the button battery is in your stomach or bowels, the doctor will most often let it pass through into your stools. You may need an x-ray in 1 to 2 days to make sure the battery has passed. If not, your doctor will likely want to take it out. ‚  

What problems could happen?


  • Soreness or swelling of the lining of the GI tract
  • Block or narrowing of GI tract
  • Infection
  • Hole in GI tract
  • GI tract scarring

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


  • Be sure that false teeth fit well.
  • Cut food, especially meat, into bite-size pieces before eating.
  • Remove all toothpicks from food before eating.
  • Caregivers of people with mental health problems should keep all objects that could be swallowed out of reach.

Where can I learn more?


Better Health Channel ‚  
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Toddlers_and_choking ‚  
New Zealand National Poisons Centre ‚  
http://www.poisons.co.nz/fact.php?f=28 ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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