Foreign Bodies in the Hypopharynx and Oesophagus Observedat the ENT Clinic in Hradec Králové in 1985-1996

Overview

The authors present a review of the diagnosis and treatment of foreign bodies in the hypopha-rynx and oesophagus. They followed up a group of 175 patients with foreign bodies removed bythe endoscopic route and 91 patients with suspected foreign bodies in the deglutitory pathways.Typical objects include meat, bone, in particular in elderly subjects, plastic objects, coins andother metal objects in children. Serious complications (perforation of the wall or inflammatorycomplications in the surrounding tissues) were recorded in eight patients.Rigid oesophagoscopy under general anaesthesia is used by the authors to remove foreign bodiesin the region of the hypopharynx and oesophagus.

Key words:
foreign body - deglutitory pathways - oesophagoscopy - diagnosis - treatment.