Endoscopic and surgical removal of foreign bodies from the upper gastrointestinal tract

: Results of management of 67 patients who swallowed foreign bodies are discussed. Types of foreign bodies, the importance of previous esophageal strictures, the rare diagnostic difficulties and the different clinical signs are analyzed. Authors stress that the most frequent causes of the artificial esophageal perforation are the endoscopic removal of swallowed foreign bodies. A surgical intervention in 14 cases was necessary. Three patients were lost after the surgical intervention.