“Jingle All the Way!”: Sharp Foreign Bodies Embedded Within the Esophageal Mucosa During the Holiday Season

Sharp pointed objects in the esophagus are extremely hazardous and can lead to complications such as mucosal ulcerations, perforations, obstruction, abscess, and fistula formation. Patients exhibit symptomatology based on the location within the proximal or distal esophagus. Ingestion of a sharp foreign object warrants emergent endoscopic removal, particularly when lodged in the esophagus. We present two young children, a 30-month-old male and a 10-month-old male, who underwent emergent endoscopic evaluation following the ingestion of a jingle bell and a Christmas ornament hanger, respectively. Types of ingested sharp foreign bodies may vary during the holiday season and present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for pediatric physicians. Additionally, foreign body ingestions are not limited to children including teenagers and should also be considered in infants. Here, we report two young patients who ingested unique holiday ornaments and describe the management of these impacted esophageal foreign bodies.