Emergency endoscopic management of dietary foreign bodies in the esophagus
Received 4 November 2006; received in revised form 1 December 2006; accepted 1 December 2006.
Abstract
Objective
We report our experience of endoscopy in the emergency management of dietary foreign bodies.
Methods
One hundred thirty-six patients were admitted to the emergency department (ED) between January 1997 and October 2006 for the endoscopic removal of esophageal dietary foreign bodies. They had a mean age of 47.7 years, and 91 (67%) were women.
Results
Most of the ingested materials (98.5%) were successfully extracted using either flexible or rigid endoscope. The objects most frequently ingested were fish bones (48%) and chicken bones (46%). Most of the objects (84%) were lodged in the upper esophagus. Two patients with irretrievable foreign bodies or complicated perforations were taken to surgery.
Conclusion
Because most of these foreign bodies lodged in the upper esophagus, physicians should take care of this area to avoid secondary injury or complications, especially with sharp bones.
aDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
bDepartment of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
ABSTRACT