Removal of Esophageal Foreign Body: Fluoroscopic Guided Double Balloon Technique

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the efficiency of a fluoroscopy-guided double balloon technique in removal of esophageal foreign bodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with esophageal foreign bodies were treated by fluoroscopy-guided double balloon technique. They suffered from dysphagia. Foreign bodies were meats(n=3), a pig bone, a beef bone, a tablet, and a chinese cabbage leaf. Three patients had underlying diseases:corrosive stricture (n=2) and postoperative stricture(n=1). Double balloon technique for removal of the foreign bodies was performed by trapping a foreign body with two valvuloplasty balloons under fluoroscopic guidance. After removal of a foreign body, stricture sites in three patients were dilated by single balloon. RESULTS: Foreign bodies were removed successfully in all patients with improvement of symptoms. Three patients with stricture were successfully treated by single balloon dilatation. There was no complication with the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of esophageal foreign bodies with fluoroscopically guided double balloon technique is effective and promising alternative to esophagoscopic removal. In addition, balloon technique is effective in the treatment of underlying esophageal stricture.