Management of sharp and penetrating foreign bodies of the upper aerodigestive tract.

The aspiration or ingestion of a foreign body into the upper aerodigestive tract is a common accident that befalls children and adults alike. Sharp and pointed objects pose special problems. The basic principles of their extraction were meticulously developed by Chevalier Jackson, whose concepts of the mechanical problems encountered and demonstrations of their solutions are responsible for keeping morbidity and mortality figures at a minimum. The principles of evaluation and management of sharp and penetrating foreign bodies of the upper digestive tract are described.