Management of Swallowed Foreign Body

Abstract

Two boys, aged 9 & 2 years who had each swallowed a nail are reported. Both nails were iron and about 5 cm long; one had a pointed end, the other was blunt at both ends. Conservative expectant treatment was successful. The nails passed out in 50h in one case & 120h in the other without causing ill effects. The different types of swallowed foreign bodies in the gastro-intestinal tract, their clinical features, methods of diagnosis and management, with possible complications are described.