A new and safe technique for removing cervical esophageal foreign body.

Despite the recent advances in instrumentation and anesthesia, removal of esophageal foreign bodies remains a challenge. Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies has yielded a success rate of 80%. Surgical removal of these foreign bodies is necessary when the endoscopic manipulations fail. Localization and size of the bodies play a critical role in the method of treatment. Here we present a patient with a large stone with sharp edges located in the cervico-thoracic region which was removed after being pushed into the hypopharynx through the esophagus rather than being pushed into the stomach. The technique used proved to be effective and safe; this may be the first use of the procedure in the literature.