Effect of spasmolytic drugs on esophageal foreign bodies

Muscle spasm has been proposed as the cause for esophageal food impaction. The aim was therefore to treat esophageal foreign bodies with spasmolytic drugs influencing both striated and smooth muscles of the esophagus. A multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of glucagon and diazepam was undertaken in 43 patients. The foreign body disimpacted in 9 of 24 patients given active substances and in 6 of 19 patients given placebo; there was no significant difference between these two groups. Almost all disimpactions occurred several hours after injection of the drugs. The hypothesis of muscle spasm as an important cause of esophageal obstruction was rejected. Medical therapies for food disimpaction other than spasmolytic drugs have to be investigated.