Clinical instructor Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Session Description: From the fish bone to the dental bridge, the steak hunk to the bottle cap, a foreign body (FB) in the esophagus is a common medical emergency that may lead to significant morbidity and mortality in adults. Although many cases of FB in the esophagus pass spontaneously and without injury, there are several objects that can pose a diagnostic conundrum impeding our ability to safely and conclusively manage our patients.
The goal of this lecture is to illustrate some of the pitfalls in the diagnosis of FB esophagus in adult patients. Targeted history taking, imaging modalities, and bedside laryngoscopy will be the focus of this short lecture to foolproof your next patient with an esophageal foreign body.
Learning Objectives:
Conclude the importance of obtaining a thorough and complete understanding of the shape, size, and potential sharpness of the foreign body.
Identify how and why negative plain films cannot fully rule out foreign bodies or injury.
Identify best methods for using CT scans to track down foreign bodies and complications.