Oesophageal food bolus impaction in elderly people

The diagnosis of food bolus impaction in the esophagus is based on the data obtained from the patient, clinical examination, radiographic diagnosis, and endoscopy. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of possible factors causing oesophageal impaction of food boluses in elderly people.

This retrospective study included six male and eight female patients treated at the Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat Disease in Novi Sad.

Post-corrosive oesophageal stricture was diagnosed in 28.57% of patients and non-corrosive stricture was found in 21.43%. Total tooth loss was recorded in 64.29% of patients and 14.29% of patients had partial tooth loss. An impacted food bolus was located at a distance of 15-25 cm or 30-40 cm distance from the upper incisors in 42.86% of the study sample.

The impaction of food boluses in the esophagus is significantly higher in women, usually after 76 years of age. There is a positive correlation between the presence of oesophageal stricture and recurrence of food bolus impaction. Partial and total tooth loss is present in a high percentage but there is no correlation with the food bolus impaction. Impaction of food bolus was equally found in the upper and lower third of the oesophagus and it was usually meat. Radiographic diagnosis should precede each esophagoscopy. Esophagoscopy with rigid oesophagoscope is a reliable method for the extraction of a bolus of food from the oesophagus in elderly patients.