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Foreign bodies in the esophagus
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Israel. dovw@post.tau.ac.il
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|November 27, 2007
Summary
Foreign bodies in the esophagus require prompt removal. Rigid esophagoscopy is a safe and effective method for extracting esophageal foreign bodies, minimizing complications and ensuring patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Otolaryngology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Esophageal foreign bodies account for one-third of gastrointestinal foreign body retentions.
- Management strategies are dictated by the foreign body's location, shape, size, and impaction duration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rigid esophagoscopy for esophageal foreign body extraction.
- To analyze patient outcomes, complications, and hospital stay associated with esophageal foreign body management.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 32 patients treated for esophageal foreign bodies between 1971 and 2001.
- Data collected included preoperative diagnosis, foreign body characteristics, retention duration, management approach, complications, and hospitalization length.
Main Results:
- Thirty foreign bodies were successfully extracted using rigid esophagoscopy; two required thoracotomy.
- One patient presented with esophageal perforation, and there was one complication (mucosal tear) and one mortality.
Conclusions:
- Esophageal foreign body impaction is a critical issue, with perforations potentially leading to death.
- Immediate extraction is crucial; rigid esophagoscopy is demonstrated as a safe and reliable method.
- Rigid endoscopy is recommended as the primary tool for esophageal foreign body removal, and training in this technique is advised for surgeons.
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