Esophageal foreign bodies.

A retrospective study of 310 patients with foreign bodies in the esophagus was analyzed. The most common age of the esophageal foreign body patients was between 0 to 9 years old (32.6%), and a coin was the most common foreign object in children. Bone, fish bone and bolus of meat were found commonly in adults, while dentures were encountered in the old age group. History of foreign body ingestion, dysphagia and odynophagia were usually presented by the patients. Roentgenographic study was useful in diagnosis and plan of management. Rigid esophagoscopy under general anesthesia is recommended in all patients with suspected history of foreign body, even though plain films of the chest and neck failed to demonstrate any significant findings. Complications can be reduced if the treatment is conducted within 24 hours of foreign body impaction.