Esophageal foreign bodies: Retrospective study in 203 cases

Abstract

Introduction A retrospective study of Rigid Esophagoscopy, with the suspect of foreign body, was performed in General Hospital Zrenjanin 'Djordje Joanovic', at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology during the period of 1988 - 2007. Results and discussion The result of 517 esophagoscopies performed in the above period was 203 (39.26%) foreign bodies, with the average of 7,8 annually per 100.000 inhabitants. The patients age ranged from 1 to 91 years, (X = 48.98). Considering the gender, there were 95 male patients (46,79%), and 108 female patients (53.21%). The highest number of foreign bodies was found in the patients from the age group 60-69, (43/22.15%). According to the structure type of foreign bodies the most frequent were bones of animal origin (86/42.36%), followed by meat bolus (67/33%), metal coins (23/11.33%), and bodies of vegetable origin (14/6.89%). Metal coins were most frequently found in the age group 1-9. In regard to the level at which a foreign body was found (described in 157 cases, (77.30%)), 94 (59.87%) were found at the pharyngoesophageal junction, 58 (36.94%) were found in middle constriction of oesophagus, and in the area of diaphragmatic constriction and cardia there were 5 (3.18%) cases. The efficiency of removing foreign bodies by rigid esophagoscopy in the above mentioned sample was 99.01% (201/203). In 2 cases (0.99%), due to the impaction of foreign body, the patients were referred to the higher referent tertiary unit institution. Conclusion Foreign bodies represent a constant casuistics in Zrenjanin Municipality, dominantly connected to work of an otorhinolaryngologist on duty. Rigid esophagoscopy is safe and efficient diagnostic and therapeutic method.