Acute oesophageal obstruction 18 months after an abdominal shotgun wound

A 32-year-old man presented to the otolaryngology department with acute dysphagia after vomiting. Radiological investigation suggested a piece of meat lodged in the lower oesophagus and rigid oesophagoscopy was performed. However, a plastic shotgun cartridge was found and removed. This had gained access to the stomach when the patient had been shot at point-blank range 18 months previously, and appeared to have been forced into the oesophagus by the vomiting, where it caused obstruction.