ABSTRACT

Foreign bodies in the esophagus can lead to fatal complications if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment methods were evaluated in this retrospective study on cases admitted to our clinics with a diagnosis of esophageal foreign body.

Fifty-two patients who had been admitted to Antakya State Hospital and the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Mustafa Kemal University with a diagnosis of esophageal foreign body between August 2008 and June 2011 were evaluated retrospectively for age, gender, type of foreign body, time interval to admission, location of the foreign body, treatment method, symptoms and complications.

Twenty-eight of the patients were female (54%) and 24 were male (46%). The youngest patient was 12 months old and the oldest was 80 years old. Thirty-four patients (65%) were aged 60 and over. In this age group, 50% of the removed foreign bodies were bone. Hypersalivation was the most common symptom among patients (58%), followed by dysphasia (20%), a stinging sensation (15%) and dyspnea (7%). No patients developed complications after the removal of the foreign body.

Esophageal foreign bodies are significant due to the life-threatening complications they may cause. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Rigid esophagoscopy is still the most reliable method of treatment.

Keywords: Esophagus, foreign body