title: Esophageal obstruction and mediastinitis: a hard pill to swallow for drug smugglers.
abstract: Ingestion of foreign bodies is a common cause of esophageal laceration and obstruction. Mediastinitis may occur if the problem is not managed expediently. A case of upper thoracic esophageal obstruction resulting from an attempted transenteric smuggling of illicit drugs is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Landreneau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002188:Cannabis; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000209:etiology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs