We reviewed the management of 167 patients with foreign body ingestion from 1980 to 1986. Two patients (1.1%) refused treatment. Nonoperative management was attempted in 14 (8.4%) patients. Endoscopy was performed on 117 patients with an overall success rate of 85.5% and a complication rate of 1.7%. Surgical treatment was required in 51 (30.0%) patients, 14 of whom had previous unsuccessful endoscopy.