Table 1.
Recommended management protocol for the treatment of ingested sharp and blunt foreign bodies (adapted from Bisharat et al. 2007).
| Type of Object | Site of Object | Management Protocol |
| Sharp Metallic Objects | Oesophagus | Urgent endoscopic retrieval |
| Stomach and Duodenum | Urgent endoscopic retrieval | |
| > DJ Flexure | Daily x-rays/strict observation | |
| If fails to progress > 72 hrs → laparotomy | ||
| If signs of Obstruction/Bleeding/Perforation → laparotomy | ||
| Blunt Metallic Objects | Oesophagus | Endoscopic retrieval |
| Stomach and Duodenum | If < 2 cm → weekly X-rays/conservative management | |
| If > 2 cm → observe with weekly X-rays for 1–2 months. If failure to progress → endoscopic retrieval |
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| > DJ Flexure | Weekly X-rays/conservative management | |
| If signs of Obstruction/Bleeding/Perforation → urgent endoscopic retrieval +/- laparotomy |