Oesophageal Foreign Bodies: Pattern and Management in a Tertiary Health Facility of a Developing Country

Introduction: Foreign body (FB) impaction in the aero-digestive tract constitutes a common emergency in otolaryngology practice worldwide. Prompt and appropriate management would limit the morbidity and possible mortality that may arise therefrom.

Objectives: The study was aimed to re-establish the prevalent foreign bodies in the oesophagus, the preferred management procedure and how social and cultural practices affect the foreign bodies involved.

Materials and Methods: The study was a retrospective review of all the oesophageal foreign bodies retrieved surgically under anaesthesia by endoscopy over 10 years.

Results: A total of 90 patients were studied which consisted of 53.3% children and 46.7% for adults. A variety of foreign bodies were recovered of which dentures (24.44%), metallic objects (15.56%) and fish bone (14.44%) were the most common foreign bodies recovered. No FB was found in 12.22% of the cases. Rigid oesophagoscopy was the favoured and effective method of treatment.

Conclusion: Dentures, metallic objects and fish bone topped the list of FB retrieved. Rigid oesophagoscopy was effective in the extraction of the foreign bodies. Social and cultural leaning played out in the variety of foreign bodies in different parts of the country.