[Foreign bodies of the esophagus and upper gastrointestinal tract in childhood].

In a retrospective study we evaluated 49 endoscopies performed under suspicion of a foreign body in the oesophagus or upper gastrointestinal tract. In 27 cases a foreign body was easily removed. One child had to undergo a cervical oesophagotomy as a result of a chronically incarcerated foreign body. Because of the very low complication rate of endoscopy and a much higher risk of complications due to unknown foreign bodies, early endoscopic diagnosis is recommended even if the foreign body is only suspected.