Patterns and Complications of Ingested Foreign Bodies in Omani Children

Obesity, Physical Activity, and Cancer Incidence in Two Geographically Distinct Populations; The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and the United Kingdom-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The relationship between obesity, physical activity, and cancer has not been well studied across different countries. The age-standardized rate of cancer in the UK is double-triple that in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCCCs). Here, we study the association between obesity, physical activity, and cancer incidence with the aim to elucidate cancer epidemiology and risk factors in two geographically, ethnically, and climatically different parts of the world.

METHODS

Our systematic search (from 2016 to 2023) in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and APA PsycINFO databases resulted in 64 studies totaling 13,609,578 participants. The Cochrane risk of bias tool, GRADE, R programming language, and the meta package were used.

RESULTS

Significant associations between obesity and cancer were found in both regions, with a stronger association in the UK (p ≤ 0.0001) than the GCCCs (p = 0.0042). While physical inactivity alone did not show a statistically significant association with cancer incidence, the pooled hazard ratio analysis revealed that the presence of both obesity and physical inactivity was associated with a significantly higher cancer incidence. The most common types of cancer were breast cancer in the UK and colorectal cancer across the GCCCs.

CONCLUSION

Although both regions share similarities, advanced healthcare systems, genetic characteristics, dietary habits, and cultural practices may influence cancer incidence and types.

Indications and Yield of Pediatric Endoscopy in Bahrain: A Tertiary Center Experience

Background and Objectives. Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a medical field that has been evolving in the last decades. Innovative advances in pediatric endoscopy led to more accurate diagnosis of various GI diseases. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of endoscopic procedures’ indications and to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic yield of pediatric GI endoscopy, considering the limitations to access this facility. Material and Methods. Retrospective, cross-sectional, and analytical chart review was performed for children who underwent GI endoscopy at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain, from 1995 to 2020. Demographic data, endoscopic indications, and findings were collected and compared. Results. Of 1,111 patients, 1,101 (99.1%) were included in the study. 589 (53.6%) patients were males. Median age at the time of endoscopy was 8 (interquartile range 3, 11) years. 1534 endoscopies were performed (1193 upper GI endoscopies (UGIE) and 341 colonoscopies) in 1296 sessions. The mean number of endoscopies per year was $59\pm 30.9$ procedures with 81.4% reduction noted after coronavirus pandemic ( $P<0.0001$ ). Ratio between UGIE to colonoscopy was 3.5 : 1. Median number of endoscopies per patient was one, ranging from one to eight procedures. 1153 (89%) sessions were diagnostic, and 143 (11.0%) were therapeutic. Main endoscopic indication was chronic abdominal pain (451 (40.9%) patients) followed by upper GI bleeding (302 (27.4%) patients). Overall positive yield was 68.1% (716/1052 procedures). Endoscopic yield varies according to the type of procedure ( $P=0.003$ ). Colonoscopy alone gave a higher yield (82.6%, 38/46 procedures) compared to combined procedures (75.4%, 141/187) and UGIE alone (65.6%, 537/819). Conclusions. This study emphasizes a careful selection of the type of endoscopic procedures, based on the expected endoscopic yield, to diagnose and treat pediatric GI diseases. In patients with chronic abdominal pain, endoscopy should be reserved as a second-line tool to avoid unnecessary use of invasive procedures.

[Consultations for digestive foreign bodies ingestion in a pediatric emergency department.]

OBJECTIVE

Foreign body (FB) ingestion distresses many families who consult the emergency department promptly. The objective of the study is to determine the epidemiological characteristics of children who consult due to suspected FB intake and its consequences.

METHODS

Descriptive-observational study, carried out in a third-level maternal and child center. Emergency reports were selected from patients under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of discharge "Ingesta CE" (code 938 CIM-9-MC until May 2018; code T18.9XXA CIM-10-MC later) from 1/1/2017 until 12/31/2018. Miscoded and reconsultations within the same episode were excluded. Data was analysed with the statistics program SPSS 25.0.

RESULTS

458 cases were included; median age 3.8 years (p25-75: 1.9-6.6 years); 267 (58.3%) males. 78.9% consulted in the first 6 hours after intake. Accidental cause was reported in 98.9% of cases. In 96.7% a single FB was ingested. The most frequent types of object were metallic (46.7%), plastics (16.4%) and food bones/shells (12.9%). The 23.6% of FB involved were sharp/pointed. 49.1% of the patients presented symptoms. A complementary test was performed in 69.4%, especially radiographs (63.5%). Metal detector was used in 10%. 9.6% required endoscopy. 90.4% were discharged from the emergency department, with 12.1% of reconsultations.

CONCLUSIONS

Consultations for FB ingestion are relatively frequent in the emergency department and, although most of them are discharged, many patients require complementary tests and a non-negligible number, endoscopy. The patient's profile is that of a preschooler who spontaneously goes to the emergency room due to an accidental ingestion of a blunt metallic object.

Urgent endoscopy in children: epidemiology in a large region of France

Background and study aims  The real burden of urgent endoscopy in children has not been studied yet. Our aim was to evaluate the need for urgent endoscopy in children. Patients and methods  Information was collected about all the calls that were received during the 24 hour on-call shift for pediatric endoscopy in the region of Ile-de-France (12.1 million inhabitants) during a 6 months period (February-July 2017). Results  A total of 237 calls (19 calls/y/100,000 children) were collected regarding children of an average age of 3.2 years (range 2 days-18 years). Most of the calls (68 %) were for foreign body ingestions. Gastroscopy was required in 32 % of children: 24 % of those calling for foreign body ingestion, 48 % for gastrointestinal bleeding, 63 % for caustic ingestions ( P  = 0.01). The average time between the call and the urgent endoscopy were below the international recommendations for each situation. Conclusions  Calling the endoscopist seems to have become a recurrent practice, although in most cases, urgent endoscopy did not appear necessary, especially for foreign body ingestion. This organization of pediatric endoscopy on call was able to guarantee the performance of urgent endoscopy in adequate timing for a highly populated region.

Endoscopic management of foreign body ingestion in children

Introduction

Foreign body ingestion is common in children. Most accidental ingestions are passed spontaneously without intervention. Some cases of ingestion require intervention in a timely fashion to reduce risks and morbidities.

Aim

To analyse the clinical presentation, aetiology, and outcome of children presenting with foreign body ingestion, who required endoscopic intervention at a tertiary hospital (King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan).

Material and methods

Records of all patients with ingested foreign bodies requiring endoscopic retrieval over a 3-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Data on age, sex, type of ingested foreign body, presentation, type of intervention, stuck and retrieval location, outcome, and complications were collected.

Results

Of the sixty-three patients identified, 32 (50.8%) were male. Mean patient age was 7.7 ±3.4 years (range: 1 month-17.4 years). Most patients (74.6%) presented asymptomatically after the family or the child reported ingestion. Coins were the most commonly retrieved foreign bodies (37, 58.7%). The oesophagus was the most common site of retrieval (45, 71%). A rat tooth forceps was most commonly used to retrieve coins, followed by a net basket. Endoscopy was effective in managing the foreign body in 57 (90.5%) cases. Surgery was needed in 1 (1.6%) patient, a 1-month-old infant with a plastic tube in his stomach. All patients tolerated the procedure well with no complications. Interestingly, 7 (11.1%) male patients showed endoscopic features of eosinophilic oesophagitis; eosinophilic oesophagitis was confirmed histopathologically in three of them.

Conclusions

Endoscopic intervention is effective and well tolerated in the management of ingested foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal system. Parents and children should be cautioned against playing with coins, to reduce the incidence of foreign body ingestion.

Foreign object ingestion and esophageal food impaction: An update and review on endoscopic management

Foreign body ingestion encompasses both foreign object ingestion (FOI) and esophageal food impaction (EFI) and represents a common and clinically significant scenario among patients of all ages. The immediate risk to the patient ranges from negligible to life-threatening, depending on the ingested substance, its location, patient fitness, and time to appropriate therapy. This article reviews the FOI and EFI literature and highlights important considerations and implications for pediatric and adult patients as well as their providers. Where published literature is insufficient to provide evidence-based guidance, expert opinion is included to supplement the content of this comprehensive review.