Gazi Tıp Dergisi / Gazi Medical Journal Ingestion of foreign bodies (FBs) is a relatively common prob- lem in the United States, with an estimated incidence of 120 per 1 million population, and is the cause of almost 1500 deaths each year. Swallowed objects may be true FBs such as coins, plastic toys, bones, pins, disc batteries and food bolus that impact in the esophagus (1). Toddlers are the most affected. Self ingestion usu- ally starts after 6 months of age as the child puts objects in the mouth. Before that the infant cannot grasp objects; an older child or an adult is the one who puts the object in the baby’s mouth (2). Although ingested FBs usually pass through the gastrointes- tinal tract without any problem, intestinal obstruction and, in less than 1%, perforation may occur (3,4). The clinical presentation of FB ingestion and the type of FB ingested may vary in different ethnic populations as well as in different age groups (5). In this study, our purpose was to evaluate the results of our experience with FB ingestion. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 1985 and December 2003, 73 FB ingestion patients were included in the study. Their medical records were analyzed retrospectively. Their demographic data and the surgical complications were noted. Chest and/or cervical X-rays were used to radiologically assess the patients. Removal of the FB from the esophagus was performed by rigid esophagoscopy. RESULTS The ages of the children ranged from 1.5 months to 15 years (mean, 4 years), and 59% of them were boys. Of all the child- ren, 41% were between 1.5 months and 2 years of age, 21% were between 2 and 5 years of age, and 38% were older than 5 years. The majority of the FBs swallowed were coins and safety pins, accounting for 75% and 13% of all FBs, respectively (Table 1). Rigid esophagoscopy was performed in all patients, and no comp- lications were encountered except for in two patients who ingested safety pins. In these two cases surgery was performed 3 months after ingestion because the safety pins did not change position in the stomach. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOREIGN BODY INGESTION AND CULTURE Ramazan KARABULUT, Kaan SÖNMEZ, Zafer TÜRKYILMAZ, Billur DEMİROĞULLARI, I.Onur ÖZEN, Meral GÜÇLÜ, A.Can BAŞAKLAR, Nuri KALE Aim: Evaluation of the results of our experiences with foreign body (FB) ingestion in this country. Patients and methods: The medical records of 73 patients treated for FB ingestion between January 1985 and December 2003 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Fifty-nine percent of the patients were boys, and the majority of them had ingested coins and safety pins. The age of 41% of the patients ranged from 1.5 months to 2 years. Rigid esophagoscopy was performed to remove the FBs. Laparotomy was required in 2 patients with safety pin ingestion. Conclusion: Coins were the most commonly ingested FBs. In addition to surgical and medical aspects, cultural differences should also be con- sidered in FB ingestion as the type of ingested object varies in different populations. Key Words: Foreign-Body Ingestion, Children, Cultures KÜLTÜR VE YABANCI CİSİM YUTULMASI ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ Amaç: Kliniğimizde yabancı cisim yutulmasına bağlı olarak tedavi edilen hastaların sonuçlarını bildirmek. Materyal ve metod: Ocak 1985 - Aralık 2003 yılları arasında yabancı cisim yutulmasına bağlı tedavi edilen 73 hastanın kayıtları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Bulgular: Hataların %59’u erkek olarak bulunurken en sık yutulan ya- bancı cisimler sırasıyla demir para ve çengelli iğne olarak bulundu.Has- taların %41’inin yaşı 1.5 ay ile 2 yaş arasında toplanmaktaydı. Yabacı cisim çıkarılması için tüm hastalara rijid özefagoskopi yapılırken sadece çengelli iğne yutan iki hastada laparatomi gerekti. Sonuç: Kültürel fark gözetmeksizin en sık yutulan yabancı cisim demir paradır. Diğer sıklıkta yutulan yabancı cisimler ise kültürel farklılıklar göstermektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Yabancı Cisim Yutulması, Çocuk, Kültür. Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara, Turkey ARAŞTIRMA YAZISI - RESEARCH ARTICLE 2005: Cilt 16: Sayı 3: 128-130