Epidemiological, Clinical and Radiological Profile of Patients with Foreign Body Oesophagus: A Prospective Study

To analyse the patients with foreign body oesophagus in relation to the clinico-radiological and socio-economic profile. The present prospective study was conducted on 100 consecutive patients of all age groups who underwent oesophagoscopy for suspected foreign body ingestion in a tertiary care hospital. The most common age group affected was 0-5 years. The median age was 5 ± 14.37 years. There was preponderance in males as compared to females, male to female ratio was 2.23:1. Majority (70%) of the patients, both males and females, belonged to rural areas. Lower socio-economic group was more commonly affected (54%). The most commonly reported symptom was foreign body sensation (55%) followed by vomiting (54%) and difficulty in swallowing (51%). Foreign body ingestion was witnessed in only 19% cases by the family members. The mean time between ingestion of the foreign body and admission to the hospital was found to be 4.5 h. The majority (97%) of foreign bodies were radio-opaque. The most common site of lodgement was just below the cricopharynx (89%). The most common foreign body retrieved in our series were coins (65%). The majority of foreign bodies (68%) were retrieved in 20-40 min after induction of general anaesthesia. In 99% of the patients we did not encounter any complications. The majority (93%) of the patient's parents/relatives had curiosity to have a glimpse of the foreign body till they actually saw the retrieved foreign body. Foreign body lodgement is more common among children of lower socio-economic strata more so in rural areas. Rigid oesophagoscopy is a safe and effective procedure for removal of the foreign body. Early intervention makes it easier to extract the foreign body without complications.