Esophageal Foreign Bodies in Adults

Abstract

The main point in managing suspected impaction of esophageal foreign bodies is to decide whether the patient needs an esophageal endoscopy. Decision-making is based on clinical history, physical examination, and radiographic studies. We review 100 cases of adults having esophagoscopy for removal of esophageal foreign bodies. Fish bones were the most frequently responsible foreign body and the cervical esophagus was the most frequent level of impaction. Decision-making based on clinical history and patient-referred symptoms revealed a positive esophagoscopy in 72% of the suspected cases. Radiographic studies gave falsely positive and falsely negative information in 30% of the cases. Rigid esophagoscopy was used successfully for foreign body removal in 99% of the cases. Average hospital stay was 3.2 days. No complications associated with the use of a rigid esophagoscope were found.

Upper GI foreign body

“…Although the rigid endoscopic technique has been useful in the past [3], the results reported here support routine use of the flexible scope for both extraction and further treatment such as esophageal dilation. Flexible endoscopy is useful for diagnosis, removal, and treatment of underlying pathology.…”

“…Radiologic studies in this setting are rarely helpful [3,5,11]. Oral contrast carries the risk of aspiration and food-related items are rarely radioopaque.…”

Incidence of Foreign Bodies in Aerodigestive Tract in Vindhya Region: Our Experience

“…In adults, food is by to make the most common foreign body of the aerodigestive tract [1,2]. Young children exploring their environments with their mouths are at risk for the ingestion and aspiration of small not-edible objects [3].…”

A Piercing Fish Bone Through Tracheal Wall

“…The sensitivity and specificity of plain radiograph was reported as 39% and 72%(7). Thus, physicians should not rely on this modality alone to either confirm or rule out any suspected fish bone impaction (8). Persistence of symptoms is an indication for CT scan as it may become a reliable adjunct tool, whereby in a retrospective Japanese series reported the sensitivity for a CT to pick up the FB was 100%, as compared to the 44% for plain films (9).…”