From the Bottlecap to the Bottleneck: Frequent Esophageal Impaction of Bottlecaps Among Young Males in a Small University Town

Mattis Bertlich,Martin Canis,Bernhard G Weiss,Friedrich Ihler,Jan M Sommerlath Sohns

doi:10.1007/s00455-021-10263-x

Mattis Bertlich, Martin Canis + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-021-10263-x

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Abstract

There have been few reports of ingestion of bottlecaps worldwide. However, all of these seemed to be unlikely accidental ingestions with a comic side effect. In contrast to this, the authors of this study found an accumulation of bottlecap ingestions in a small university town. Hence, we conducted a study to investigate the nature of these ingestions. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary referral center in a small German university town (Göttingen). All patients that were admitted for esophageal foreign bodies were screened for accidental ingestion of bottlecaps and included in the study at hand. Overall, there were 14 cases of bottlecap ingestion within 12 years. Patients were exclusively male, average age was 23.0 ± 4.2 years, ranging from 18.3 to 35.6 years. In 13 out of 14 cases, association to a fraternity was found. Young men, particularly those belonging to a fraternity, should be beware of bottlecap ingestion when consuming beer in risky rituals in small university towns. Alternatively, competitive beer drinking may generally be avoided.

Highlights

Constant consumption of alcohol is dangerous to both mental and physical wellbeing
Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages in moderate amounts, in particular of those that are rich in polyphenol, has even been discussed to have beneficial long-term effects on health and wellbeing [1]—even though there are viewpoints that negate any beneficial effect of alcohol consumption [2]
While the nature of the ingested foreign bodies naturally varies according to age, social surroundings and objects at hand, the authors of this study noted a peculiar cumulation of esophageal impaction of bottlecaps, in context fraternity drinking rituals

Summary

Introduction

Constant consumption of alcohol is dangerous to both mental and physical wellbeing. (regular) consumption of alcohol is deeply embedded into many societies and a frequent, if not obligatory part of social convention. Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages in moderate amounts, in particular of those that are rich in polyphenol, has even been discussed to have beneficial long-term effects on health and wellbeing [1]—even though there are viewpoints that negate any beneficial effect of alcohol consumption [2]. There are many forms of protracted consumption, one of which is binge drinking where ample amounts of alcoholic. While the nature of the ingested foreign bodies naturally varies according to age, social surroundings and objects at hand, the authors of this study noted a peculiar cumulation of esophageal impaction of bottlecaps, in context fraternity drinking rituals. We decided to investigate the nature of these incidents

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