Gastrointestinal foreign bodies (FB) are comprised of food bolus impaction and intentionally or unintentionally ingested or inserted true FB. Food bolus impaction and true FB ingestion represent a recurrent problem and a true challenge in gastrointestinal endoscopy. More than 80-90% of the ingested true FB will pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract without complications. However, in 10-20% of the cases an endoscopic intervention is deemed necessary. True FB ingestion has its greatest incidence in children, psychiatric patients and prisoners. On the other hand, food bolus impaction typically occurs in the elderly population with an underlying esophageal pathology. The most serious situations, with higher rates of complications, are associated with prolonged esophageal impaction, ingestion of sharp and long objects, button batteries and magnets. Physicians should recognize early alarm symptoms, such as complete dysphagia, distressed patients not able to manage secretions, or clinical signs of perforation. Although many papers are yearly published regarding this subject, our knowledge is mainly based on case-reports and retrospective series. Herein, the authors summarize the existing evidence and propose an algorithm for the best approach to FB ingestion.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is an evolving field kindled by technologic advances, scientific discoveries, and the innovative minds of endoscopists. The development and subsequent applications of overtubes in gastrointestinal endoscopy mirror this larger evolution. In this article, we review the development, applications, and complications associated with overtubes in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

The first use of an overtube to assist endoscopy was described more than 20 years ago. Since then a number of uses of overtubes have been described, but relatively few complications have been reported. We report a case of esophageal perforation caused by overtube insertion during endoscopic band ligation of varices. This case is unique in that the patient presented 13 days after the original procedure, and it is the first reported case of esophageal injury involving the modified Bard overtube. The existing literature involving overtube injury is also reviewed.

Placement of an overtube is required for endoscopic variceal ligation. The spectrum of overtube-related esophageal mucosal injury is unknown. We made a prospective comparison of two types of overtubes and a determination of the frequency, severity, and risk factors for overtube-related injury.

Two overtubes (60F, 20 cm, "new" overtube; and 60F, 25 cm, "old" overtube) were used and placed using the bougie-assisted technique. Mucosal integrity was documented before and after variceal ligation. Overtube contact time, bands number, setting (emergent versus elective), type of overtube, degree of coagulopathy, and development of symptoms after variceal ligation were recorded.

Fifty sessions in 29 patients were analyzed; 24% of sessions were emergent. The old overtube was used in 24 sessions and the new in 26. Mucosal injury occurred in 72% of sessions. Mean overtube contact time was 11.58 +/- 0.97 minutes, the mean number of bands placed per session was 6.4 +/- 0.4, and the mean international normalized ratio was 1.47 +/- 0.06. No risk factors correlated with mucosal injury except for the old overtube, which was associated with tears (p = 0.02).

Mucosal injury related to the overtube is frequent but clinically unimportant. Because mucosal tears occurred significantly more often with the old overtube, we suggest that its use should be avoided.

A prospective randomized trial was performed to compare the efficacy of endoscopic epinephrine injection and heat probe treatment in actively bleeding peptic ulcers. Emergency endoscopy in 1758 patients over an 18-month period identified 132 patients with active ulcer bleeding. They were randomized to receive either endoscopic epinephrine injection or heat probe treatment. After endoscopy, the patients were transferred to the surgical gastroenterology ward and were managed by surgeons unaware of the treatment option. Bleeding was initially controlled in 96% by epinephrine injection and in 83% by heat probe (P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in outcome as measured by transfusion requirement (4.5 units vs. 3.8 units), emergency surgery (20% vs. 22%), hospital stay (8 days vs. 7 days), and mortality (2 vs. 4) between the injection group and the heat probe group. Two patients in the heat probe group experienced perforation. We conclude that both endoscopic epinephrine injection and heat probe treatment are effective in stopping bleeding from actively bleeding ulcers. Epinephrine injection is technically easier to perform and has a higher initial success rate.

Endoscopic haemostasis can be effective in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, and should be regarded as potential front-line treatment. Diverse methods are available, and although no single technique has become firmly established, current evidence favours thermal coagulation and injection therapy.

A prospective randomised trial was performed to assess the efficacy of endoscopic injection of adrenaline for actively bleeding ulcers. Emergency endoscopy in 961 patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage identified 68 patients with actively bleeding ulcers. These 68 patients were randomised to receive either endoscopic injection of adrenaline or no endoscopic treatment. After endoscopy both groups were managed in an identical manner, and strict criteria for emergency operation were adhered to in both groups. Bleeding was initially controlled in all 34 patients assigned to the treatment group. Significantly fewer patients in the treatment group than in the control group needed emergency operations (five v 14, respectively). In addition, in the treatment group the median transfusion requirement was significantly less (three v five units of blood) and the median hospital stay shorter (six v eight days). No complications were observed with the injection of adrenaline, and the rate of healing of ulcers in those attending for endoscopy six weeks after discharge was similar in both groups (81% (17 out of 21 patients) in the treatment group v 79% (11 out of 14) in the control group). Injection of adrenaline is effective in stopping bleeding from actively bleeding ulcers.

Endoscopic injection of actively bleeding peptic ulcers with adrenalin was performed in 37 patients. Initial hemostasis was achieved in all. Five patients rebled and three required emergency surgery. Definitive hemostasis was achieved in 34 (92%). No significant local or systemic complication was observed. The technique in our patients was safe and deserves further comparative study with other methods of endoscopic hemostasis.

The heat probe is a recently developed instrument for endoscopic treatment of bleeding. A prototype probe was used in 16 patients with significant hemorrhage from peptic ulcers (10 duodenal and six gastric). It proved impossible to treat four of the patients with duodenal ulcers because of obscuring clots or active bleeding. Rebleeding occurred in only one of 12 patients who had undergone successful application of the probe and ceased after a second treatment. There were no complications due to treatment.

Biopsy specimens of the small bowel were obtained from 40 patients suspected of having malabsorption. Four different techniques were used at a single session--namely, endoscopic biopsy of the descending duodenum using paediatric and standard size forceps and suction capsule biopsy of the descending duodenum and the proximal jejunum. Specimens were compared for size, adequacy, and ability to confirm or exclude mucosal abnormality. Fourteen patients had villous atrophy. In all patients four biopsy specimens were obtained with paediatric endoscopic forceps and four with standard endoscopic forceps. No capsule biopsy specimen was retrieved from the duodenum in three patients and from the jejunum in five patients. Specimens were considered to be adequate in 36 patients when paediatric forceps were used, in 39 when standard forceps were used, in 28 on duodenal capsule biopsy, and in 32 on jejunal capsule biopsy. This study indicates that the most reliable method for diagnosing or excluding villous atrophy is endoscopic forceps biopsy of the descending duodenum, provided that at least four specimens are obtained with standard size forceps.