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Acute food bolus impaction: aetiology and management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Peter D. Lacy ,
Martin J. Donnelly ,
Joseph P. McGrath ,
Patrick J. Byrne ,
Thomas P. J. Hennessy  and
Conrad V. I. Timon
Peter D. Lacy
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin.
Martin J. Donnelly
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin.
Joseph P. McGrath
Affiliation:
Department of Head & Neck Surgery and Surgery, St. James's Hospital, Dublin.
Patrick J. Byrne
Affiliation:
Department of Head & Neck Surgery and Surgery, St. James's Hospital, Dublin.
Thomas P. J. Hennessy
Affiliation:
Department of Head & Neck Surgery and Surgery, St. James's Hospital, Dublin.
Conrad V. I. Timon*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin.
*
Address for correspondence: Professor C. V. I. Timon, Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, St. James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland.
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Abstract

A prospective study into the aetiology of acute food bolus obstruction (AFBO) was carried out on 17 consecutive patients who presented with this complaint. There were nine males and eight females. Twelve patients (71 per cent) had symptoms of oesophageal disease and 10 patients (59 per cent) had prior food bolus obstruction. Investigations included endoscopy, barium swallow, oesophageal pH and manometry studies. Evidence of oesophageal pathology was found in 12/14 (86 per cent) of patients investigated. No patients had malignancy and the most common abnormality, gastroesophageal reflux (GOR) was found in eight out of 14 (57 per cent) of cases. Oesophageal dysmotility was seen in five out of 12 (42 per cent) patients who had manometric studies.

With such a high incidence of recurrence of AFBO, we suggest that patients with this condition be investigated to exclude malignancy and to identify benign oesophageal pathology using techniques such as oesophageal pH and manometry. Appropriate treatment of oesophageal disease may help prevent recurrence of this distressing condition.

Keywords

Deglutition disordersOesophagus
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 12 , December 1997 , pp. 1158 - 1161
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

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