Predictors of Spontaneous Passage of Ingested Foreign Bodies in Adults

The study aimed to identify predictors for spontaneous passage of foreign bodies in adults by analyzing their characteristics, such as type, length, and location. A retrospective 12-year study included 365 patients, and the overall rate of spontaneous passage was 53.7%. Food impaction had a passage rate of 47.9%, sharp objects 44.3%, blunt objects 88.7%, and long blunt objects had the lowest rate at 22.2%. Esophageal location was associated with a lower spontaneous passage rate compared to the stomach and intestines. The study also determined the maximum length for spontaneous passage in the stomach and small intestine.