A gastric foreign body is considered to be any object inside the stomach that should not normally be there.
Its entry is usually accidental in pediatric ages or in the elderly, being voluntary in adults with autolytic motivations, patients with mental retardation or psychiatric disorders (coins, dentures, toys, medication containers or other types of elements).
After ingestion, it may cause coughing, choking symptoms, pain while descending the esophagus and abundant salivation. Once it reaches the stomach, symptoms usually subside.
Diagnosis is clinical by performing a directed interrogation, complete physical examination, simple abdominal X-ray and digestive endoscopy depending on the case.
Extraction of the foreign body is usually performed with an endoscope but sometimes surgery may be necessary.
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