Foreign Bodies in the Esophagus

Abstract

To study the management (diagnostic and therapeutic) of esophageal foreign bodies. A retrospective study was made of all rigid esophagoscopies performed for suspected foreign bodies in the esophagus by the otolaryngology department of Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital (Santander, Spain) from 1992 to 1996. Rigid esophagoscopy was performed for suspected foreign bodies in 195 patients (121 females, 74 males; age range 2 to 97 years). In 183 cases an impacted foreign body was found. The most frequent location was the upper third of the esophagus (165/85.2%). The most common type of foreign body was fish bones in adults (75/171) and coins in children (7/12). In 145 cases a barium esophagogram was obtained before surgery, which yielded 1 false negative and 8 false positives. In 16 patients flexible endoscopy had failed previously to remove the foreign body. Twelve patients (all adults) had serious complications. The barium esophagogram and rigid esophagoscopy are still appropriate techniques for managing esophageal foreign bodies.