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A typical but seldom recognized foreign body in the esophagus of a laryngectomized patient
Jaime P Rodrigues1, Rolando Pinho2, Joao Carvalho3
1Gastrenterologia, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia, Portugal.
Abstract:
A 57-year-old man with a past medical history of total laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was admitted to our institution 5 months after the procedure, for surgical resection of a local recurrence of the tumor. In the postoperative period, endoscopically guided placement of a nasogastric tube was scheduled, after previous failed attempts. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an anastomotic dehiscence, 13 cm distal to the incisors, and a foreign body penetrating through the esophageal wall, 20cm distal to the incisors. We were unable to identify the foreign body with certainty but, after consulting with the assistant otorhinolaryngologist, we realized that it was a voice prosthesis.
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