Although the majority of foreign bodies will pass
through the GI tract without harm, it is important to
realize that both foreign bodies and food impactions
can result in serious complications such as obstruction,
perforation, and death ( Ginsberg & Pfau, 2010 ).
Recognizing the potential for complication will aid in
planning for appropriate endoscopic intervention.
Areas of luminal narrowing and angulation in the GI
tract may result in impaction of foreign bodies, thus
increasing the risk of obstruction and perforation
( Figure 1 ).