Analysis of Clinical Feature and Management of Fish Bone Ingestion of Upper Gastrointestinal Tract.
OBJECTIVE
Fish bone impaction in the upper gastrointestinal tract is a common reason for patients to seek emergent care. The aim of this study was to find a clinical characteristics of patients with fish bone impaction in the upper gastrointestinal tract.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 286 fish bone ingestion patients who complained of dysphagia and irritation after eating fish. The patients were treated according to the hospital protocol regarding the removal of fish bone. The parameters for the analysis included the age and sex of the patients, location and characteristics of the foreign body, method of removal, and type of fish.


RESULTS
The fish bone could be observed by the physical examination in the oral cavity and laryngopharynx in 198 patients (69.23%). For those patients in whom the foreign body could not be observed in oral cavity and laryngopharynx, noncontrast computed tomography (CT) (from nasopharynx to diaphragm) was performed. The fish bone was discovered in the esophagus of 66 patients (23.08%). The esophageal fish bone was successfully removed by transnasal flexible esophagoscopy (TNE) in 55 patients, the fish bone moved to the stomach in 10 patients and one fish bone was removed by rigid esophagoscopy due to esophageal abscess. The esophageal fish bone was mostly found in patients aged 50 years and older.


CONCLUSIONS
Fish bone foreign body ingestion in the esophagus appeared to be more common in older patients. Incorporating noncontrast CT and TNE can facilitate decision-making and adequate treatment for patients with fish bone impactions.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Jin Pyeong
JP
Kim
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. ; Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Oh Jin
OJ
Kwon
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Hyun Seok
HS
Shim
Dong-A University Hospital Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Busan, Korea.
Rock Bum
RB
Kim
Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
Jin Hyun
JH
Kim
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. ; Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
Seung Hoon
SH
Woo
Aged; Bone and Bones; Endoscopy; Fishes; Foreign Bodies