Background: Successful foreign object retrieval may depend on device choice and the experience level of the endoscopist, although these factors have not been systematically evaluated.
Methods: In anesthetized pigs, the ability to retrieve foreign objects (metal tack, button disc battery, wooden toothpick) placed endoscopically into the stomach was assessed. Seven university medical center gastroenterology attending physicians (5 clinical and 2 basic science research [BSR]), and 4 fellows-in-training participated. The devices used were the Roth retrieval net, rat tooth forceps, Dormia basket, polypectomy snare, and radial jaw forceps. The time to retrieve each object into an esophageal overtube within a 5 minute maximum was measured.
Results: Only the Roth net and Dormia basket were successful in retrieving the button disc battery, although the Roth net was superior (100% vs 27%, Fisher p < 0.025). All devices were equally successful at retrieving the tack (82% to 100%, p = NS). The snare was significantly faster than the Roth net (p < 0.05). For the tack, there was significantly fewer difficulties encountered with the snare than the Roth net (Fisher p < 0.03). The Roth net was incapable of retrieving the toothpick; the other devices were equally successful (91% to 100%). The clinical attendings had a significantly higher success rate (95%) than the fellows (82%, chi squared p < 0.05) or combined fellows/BSR attendings (80%, p < 0.02), and were significantly faster than the fellows (p < 0.0002) or the fellows/BSR attendings (p < 0.0003).
Conclusions: The Roth net is the best device for retrieving smooth objects such as the button disc battery. For sharp objects, such as the tack and toothpick, best results were achieved with the snare, although the forceps were also effective. More experienced endoscopists had higher success rates and faster retrieval times. Both device choice and the experience level of the endoscopists have an impact on successful foreign object retrieval.