Surgical management of an impacted sharp metallic foreign body in esophagus

Devgaraha S,Mathur Rm,Pokharna P,Sharma Nk,Yadav Vk

doi:10.5348/ijcri-2013-09-357-cs-1

Abstract

Introduction: Ingestion of foreign bodies is common and the esophagus is the most common site of impaction in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Case Series: We report two cases of impacted metallic foreign bodies in upper esophagus. The presentating symptoms were throat pain and dysphagia. Rigid and flexible esophagoscopy failed to retrieve the foreign body in both cases hence lateral cervical esophagostomy was performed for foreign body removal. Conclusion: Ingestion of foreign bodies is common. Some metallic foreign bodies frequently get impacted in the esophagus because of their large size, rigidity and pointed edges and are difficult to remove by endoscopy. Therefore, surgery is required for retrieval of such impacted, sharp, metallic foreign bodies.

Highlights

INTRODUCTIONForeign body ingestion is a common problem encountered in clinical practice. Most of them pass spontaneously but some are really problematic
Ingestion of foreign bodies is common and the esophagus is the most common site of impaction in the upper gastrointestinal tract
Foreign body ingestion is a common problem encountered in clinical practice

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Foreign body ingestion is a common problem encountered in clinical practice. Most of them pass spontaneously but some are really problematic. We present two cases of unusual foreign body ingestion, one was a sharp metallic folded tin cover and another was a sharp metallic bottle cap. We report two cases of impacted, sharp, metallic foreign bodies in the upper esophagus. First patient was a 35yearold male, who was a known case of schizophrenia He ingested a sharp metallic folded tin cover (Figure 1). The second patient was a 25years male He presented to us with a history of accidental ingestion of sharp metallic bottle cap (Figure 3). On examination chest had bilateral equal air entry without stridor In both cases Xray of the cervical spine and chest (lateral view) were done which reveled foreign body with sharp edges present in the cervical esophagus (Figure 4). Www.ijcasereportsandimages.com uneventful and both the patients are doing well on followup

Findings

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION