Background and Study Aims: There have so far been no prospective studies on th e value of flexible endoscopy for removing foreign bodies in the upper gastroint estinal tract. This study presents a clinical analysis of accidents with foreign bodies and prospectively evaluates the effectiveness of flexible endoscopy for removing them. Patients and Methods: Atotal of 105 cases of foreign-body ingest ion in the upper gastrointestinal tract were evaluated, 29 (27.6%) in children and 76 (72.4%) in adults. Thirty patients (28.5%) had esophageal strictures. R esults: Thirty-nine of the foreign bodies (37.1%) consisted of food and 66 (62 .9%) were not food-related. The success rate of foreign-body extraction using only a conventional flexible endoscope and accessories for treatment was 98.0% , and with only a polypectomy snare and rat-toothed forceps it was 91.2%. Comp lications at themoment of foreign-bodyremoval occurred in nine patients (8.6%) ; there was only one (1%) esophageal perforation. The incidence of complication s related to the duration of foreign-body impaction was six (10.5%) with forei gn bodies impacted for up to 24h, 13 (52.0%) for those impacted for 24-48h, and three (60.0%) for those impacted for 48-72h (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The flexible en doscope is an effective and safe device for removing foreign bodies from the upp er gastrointestinal tract, with a high success rate using only the polypectomy s nare and the rat-toothed forceps as accessories. If foreign-body impaction las ts for more than 24h, there is a significant increase in the incidence of compli cations. Background and Study Aims There There so far been no prospective studies on th e value of flexible endoscopy for removing foreign bodies in the upper gastroint estinal tract. This study presents a clinical analysis of accidents with foreign bodies and prospectively evaluates the effectiveness of flexible endoscopy for removing them. Patients and Methods: Atotal of 105 cases of foreign-body ingest ion in the upper gastrointestinal tract were equally, 29 (27.6%) in children and 76 (72.4%) in adults. Thirty patients (28.5%) had esophageal strictures. Résults: Thirty-nine of the foreign bodies (37.1%) consisted of food and 66 (62.9%) were not food-related. The success rate of foreign-body extraction using only a conventional flexible endoscope and accessories for treatment was 98.0%, and with only a polypectomy snout and rat-toothed forceps it was 91.2%. Comp lications at themoment of foreign-bodyremoval occurred in nine patients (8.6%); there was only one (1%) esophageal perforation . The incidence of complication s related to the duration of foreign-body impaction was six (10.5%) with forei gn bodies impacted for up to 24h, 13 (52.0%) for those impacted for 24-48h, and three (60.0%) for those impacted for 48-72h (P <0.05). Conclusions: The flexible en doscope is an effective and safe device for removing foreign bodies from the upp er gastrointestinal tract, with a high success rate using only the polypectomy s nare and the rat -toothed forceps as accessories. If foreign-body impaction las ts for more than 24h, there is a significant increase in the incidence of compli cations.