Abstract
Foreign bodies entrapped in the oesophagus have to be removed endoscopically. In most cases, foreign bodies in the stomach require only observation in the outpatient setting because they leave the stomach easily, without complications, per vias naturales.
If a battery remains at the same place of the digestive tract for more than 24 hours, endoscopic removal is indicated at our department. In additon, endoskopy is done in cases of swallowed multiple magnets or bodies that are too large and remain in stomach for several weeks or months.
Surgical removal of foreign bodies should be reserved only for complicated cases.