[Electronic laryngoscope for transnasal esophageal examination]

To evaluate the value of electronic laryngoscope for transnasal esophagoscopy.

The electronic laryngoscope was used for transnasal esophagoscopy in 50 patients from June 2009 to June 2011 in our department. There were 32 males and 18 females with their age ranged from 16-88 years (mean 53.8 years). Before esophagoscopy, 1% ephedrine-dicaine mixture was sprayed into the nasal and pharyngeal cavities for topical anesthesia. The esophagoscopy was used for screening examination in the patients with reflux, globus sensation, dysphagia, head and neck cancer, suspected foreign body, and vocal cord paralysis, etc.

The transnasal esophagoscopy with electronic laryngoscope was performed successfully in all the patients. Mild nausea and vomiting occurred in 4 patients, but no patient required to stop the examination. Of the 50 patients, 38 patients (76%) had normal findings and 12 patients (24%) had positive findings of the esophagus. Esophageal cancer was diagnosed in one patient, esophageal foreign body in 2 patients, esophageal injury in one patient, candidal esophagitis in 3 patients, esophagitis in 3 patients, and achalasia of the cardia in 2 patients.

The electronic laryngoscope for transnasal esophagoscopy is an alternative to conventional esophagoscopy, which is useful for screening the esophagus in the patients with reflux, globus, dysphagia, head and neck cancer, and suspected foreign body, etc.