Foreign Body Removal

What is foreign body removal?

Foreign body removal refers to the process of locating and removing potentially dangerous objects or substances from your child’s body. If your child steps on a sharp object like a piece of glass or gets a splinter, or they swallow a small object like a button or a toy, make an appointment at Cali Kids Urgent Care right away.

What are the signs my child might need foreign body removal?

If your child swallows a foreign object, it might not cause any symptoms. That said, if the object gets lodged in their throat or esophagus, telltale signs include:

• Drooling
• Difficulty swallowing
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Choking

If the object makes it through your child’s stomach and into their digestive tract, they might experience gastrointestinal discomfort, including cramps, bloating, vomiting, or a loss of appetite. 

What should I do if my child swallows a foreign object?

If your child swallows a foreign object, like a button or a coin, stay calm and call Cali Kids Urgent Care right away. Let the administrative staff know about the events leading up to your child ingesting the object and if they’re experiencing any symptoms. 

Cali Kids Urgent Care always sets aside time for same-day appointments, so they can get you in right away. When you arrive, Dr. Glenn conducts an exam of their mouth, throat, and esophagus. 

If these measures don’t provide enough information, she might order diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI. If the foreign body is a sharp object like a splinter that’s lodged in your child’s soft tissue, she might use an ultrasound to locate it.

Once Dr. Glenn determines the location of the foreign object, she develops a plan to safely remove it.

What does foreign body removal involve?

Most of the time, foreign body removal involves your child taking prescription medication. Certain drugs can relax the esophagus and encourage the object to pass through your child’s digestive tract.

If the foreign object requires immediate removal, Dr. Glenn might recommend:

• Flexible esophagoscopy
• Rigid esophagoscopy
• Foley catheter technique
• Esophageal bougeniege

Each of these outpatient techniques is minimally invasive and uses special tools to safely find and extract the object from your child’s esophagus or digestive tract. In rare instances, Dr. Glenn might recommend surgery.

To learn more about foreign body removal, make an appointment for