[Endoscopic examination of esophagus performed by an otolaryngological head and neck surgeon]

The authors have analyzed 562 cases treated by esophagoscopy in ENT Department of District Hospital Nr 1 in Rzeszów, Poland from 1987 to 1996. There have been 580 esophagoscopy performed during this period: In this number 504 therapeutic procedures and 76 diagnostic ones. The most common indication for therapeutic esophagoscopy has been the suspection or presence of foreign body in the esophagus and rarely other pathology of upper part of digestive tract. Complications of esophagoscopy are rather rare and in the most cases they are the result of perforation of esophageal wall during esophagoscopy. In presented material the complication rate was 0.17%. Impacted parts of false teeth in esophagus should be always removed by experienced otolaryngologist under endotracheal anesthesia and with esophageal muscles relaxation.