Naturally occurring fruit juices dislodge meat bolus obstruction in vitro*

Abstract

Oesophageal meat bolus obstruction is often removed endoscopically/surgically with attendant morbidity and mortality. Anecdotal evidence suggests that fruit juices' enzymes may dissolve meat boluses. To assess this, an in vitro study was carried out. Cooked chicken was tightly packed between 10 and 8 mL markers of 80, 10 mL syringes. Two millilitres of fresh juice from lemons, papaya, kiwi fruits, pineapples, frozen and then thawed pineapple juice, processed pineapple juice, Coca-Cola and saliva were added to 10 syringes each. By 4 h, the meat boluses significantly moved in the pineapple juice both fresh and frozen and kiwi juice groups (P < 0.001), little movement in the Coca-Cola group (P < 0.05), and no movement in the saliva, processed pineapple juice, lemon juice and papaya groups. In conclusion, pineapples and kiwi fruits contain enzymes which can dislodge meat boluses. Freezing does not denature the enzyme and provides a convenient way of storing the juice.