This review article is intended to aid the clinician in the evaluation and management of older children and adult patients with possible foreign object ingestion and/or food bolus impaction. A literature search was performed in June 1993 on the Medline using Medlars II, the National Library of Medicine's National Interactive Retrieval Service. This search generated 181 citations. References chosen for review were English-language citations from the gastroenterology, otolaryngology, general surgical, and radiological literature. As little or no data exist from well-designed prospective trials, emphasis was given to results from large series. In preparing this manuscript several drafts were distributed to the members of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Standards of Practice Committee, and to national experts on the subject for critical review.