[A method for the intraoperative localization of foreign bodies in the esophagus not removable endoscopically]

In the last years the cases of swallowing deliberately "starlet" foreign bodies made especially for that purpose became more often. They lodge mostly in the esophagus. In most of the cases the endoscopic extraction is impossible and the only way for removing the body is by operation. Usually the patients are operated after the foreign body has been for a long period there and it is found that there are serious esophagitis, periesophagitis and mediastinitis. That makes it difficult to localize the foreign body and necessitates making a big esophagotomy which complicates the post-operative period. We work out a method for intraoperative localization of endoscopically unremovable foreign bodies in the esophagus. This method has a number of advantages and they improve the results from the surgical treatment of these patients.