ABSTRACT
To evaluate management of oesophageal foreign bodies. Cross sectional analytic study. Department of otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur, from May 2003 to December 2004. A total of 186 patients with history of foreign body ingestion were admitted and included in the study. A structured questionnaire was designed to record the informations. X-ray neck and rigid oesophagoscopy was carried out to diagnose and remove foreign bodies. Out of 186 patients, 155[83.33%] were from paediatric age group and 31[16.66%] above 12 years of age. Coin was the commonest foreign body [77.41%]. Dysphagia was the commonest symptom [96.77%]. X-rays were conclusive in 181[97.3%] patients. Rigid oesophagoscopy was carried out in all cases and removal of foreign body was successful in 95.69% cases, and complication rate was very low