Metallic foreign body in esophagus: Are multiple radiographs necessary?

Background: Multiple X-rays required for confirmation and localization of ingested metallic foreign body preoperatively predisposes children to increased radiation exposure. This study aims to highlight the current necessity or otherwise of these X-ray requests. Materials and Methods: This is a retr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of African medicine 2010-04, Vol.9 (2), p.73-76
Main Author: Salisu, Abubakar D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Care and treatment
Child
Child, Preschool
Coins
Corps étrangers métalliques
CT imaging
Diagnosis
Emergency medical care
Esophagus
Esophagus - diagnostic imaging
Female
Foreign bodies (Medical care)
Foreign Bodies - diagnostic imaging
Health aspects
Health care
Hospitals, Teaching
Humans
Injuries
Male
Medical examination
Metal detectors
Metallic foreign bodies
Metals
Nigeria
Numismatics
oesophage
Patient outcomes
radiographies
Radiography
Retrospective Studies
Risk factors
Studies
Surgery
Teaching hospitals
X-Ray Film
X-rays
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Summary:Background: Multiple X-rays required for confirmation and localization of ingested metallic foreign body preoperatively predisposes children to increased radiation exposure. This study aims to highlight the current necessity or otherwise of these X-ray requests. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with ingested metallic foreign bodies over a five-year period in a tertiary health institution. Case notes and X-ray requests were studied. Results: Of 39 cases of foreign body in esophagus, 29 (74.4%) were metallic and the coin accounted for 79.3% of all metallic foreign bodies. There were 20 males to 9 females and 28 children aged 2 months to 11 years to one adult. There were 62 pre-extraction X-rays consisting of 29 (46.8%) initial confirmatory films and 33 (53.2%) repeat films for localization of the foreign body. There were 10 post-extraction films for postoperative complications. Conclusion: More than half of the X-ray films were unnecessary and the radiation exposure was avoidable if alternative methods of localization of the foreign body such as the handheld metal detector were available.
ISSN:1596-3519
0975-5764
DOI:10.4103/1596-3519.64755