Esophageal foreign bodies: a Jordanian experience.
OBJECTIVE
To study the pattern of esophageal foreign bodies (FB) in Jordan and to compare it with other countries.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study conducted on all patients (527) who were admitted with esophageal FB during a period of 9 years from January 1992 to January 2000. Two major referral hospitals were involved: the Princess Basma and Al-Bashir hospitals. A data sheet was constructed in which we included: name, age, gender, presenting symptoms, type and site of FB, technique of removal, and complications if present.


RESULTS
Of the 527 patients 53% were male and 47% were female.77% were children under the age of 10 years. In children coins were by far the most common FB to be found in the esophagus (68%), while bones were the principal FB to be found in adults (8%). In 89%, the FB was found at the level of cricopharyngeal muscle. Drooling of saliva (72%), dysphagia (71%), and vomiting (24%) were the most commonly presenting symptoms. Both rigid esophagoscopy and Magill forceps techniques were used to remove the FB from the esophagus. The complication rate was 2% which included: esophageal perforation and mediastinitis, esophageal stenosis and esophageal erosions.


CONCLUSIONS
The pattern of esophageal FB in Jordan is not different from other countries.
Mahafza
Tareq
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid, Jordan. mahafza@just.edu.jo
Batieha
Anwar
A
Suboh
Munther
M
Khrais
Tareq
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies