Pharyngoesophageal foreign bodies: clinical presentation and treatment outcome in a tertiary health center

Background: Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a commonly encountered problem in both children and adults in emergency departments. Aim and Objective: This study reviewed the pattern and outcome of rigid esophagoscopic management of pharyngoesophageal FBs in our center. Materials and Methods: The records of patients managed for impacted pharyngoesophageal FBs at the study center over a period of 10 years were reviewed. Information obtained was collated and analyzed using SPSS version 18. Results: A total of 153 patients were reviewed. Among these, 96 (62.7%) were males with sex ratio (M:F) of 1.6:1. The mean age was 23.5 ± 2.3 years. The main presenting complaint was dysphagia 127 (83%). Coin was the most common FB, 33 (21.6%). The most common site of impaction was at the cricopharyngeal sphincter, 58 (37.9%). Complication was encountered in 43 (28.1%) patients. The most common complication encountered during rigid esophagoscopy was mucosal tear, 35 (22.9%). Most patients [97 (63.4%)] stayed for 1 to 3 days on admission; 151 (98.7%) had successful rigid esophagoscopic removal of their FBs. There is a statistically significant correlation between type of FB and duration of impaction with development of complication following rigid esophagoscopy (P value = 0.006 and 0.014, respectively). Conclusion: Rigid esophagoscopy was highlighted in this study as an effective method of removal of pharyngoesophageal FBs; however, ion disc battery and artificial denture are relatively associated with increased complications.