Management of oesophageal foreign bodies

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