Update on Foreign Bodies in the Esophagus: Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

Foreign body impaction in the esophagus is an important emergency that carries significant morbidity and potential mortality. The most common cause of esophageal foreign body obstruction in adults is meat bolus impaction above a pre-existing distal esophageal (mucosal) ring, peptic or malignant esophageal stricture, or eosinophilic esophagitis. Immediate evaluation of the airway, assessment of the urgency of removal, radiological evaluation to localize the object, endoscopic or surgical retrieval, and subsequent monitoring for complications are essential steps in the management.