[Two patients with a perforation of the esophagus and hypopharynx, respectively, caused by a bone in their food].
Two patients, men aged 58 and 28 years, developed pain in the throat while eating chicken and pork, respectively. In the emergency clinic and during a check-up on the following day, no foreign body could be found. On the third visit to the hospital, oesophagoscopy was performed. In one patient a chicken bone was found lying transversely in the oesophagus; after removal of this bone extraluminal pus was seen. In the other patient a pork bone was found in the right piriform recess, with a great deal of local pus. Both foreign bodies were removed during oesophagoscopy. The recovery of both patients was uneventful. A foreign body is found in the upper digestive tract in approximately one-third of the patients presenting to an emergency department with a history of foreign body ingestion. Serious complications occur in less than 1%; however, these complications can be life-threatening. If, based on the anamnesis, physical examination or radiological evaluation, there is suspicion of a foreign body in the oesophagus, or if the examination is incomplete, then oesophagoscopy should be performed.
Erasmus Medisch Centrum, afd. KNO, dr.Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam.
M A J
MA
van Looij
L
L
Feenstra
D000328:Adult; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged