Laser-assisted removal of a foreign body impacted in the esophagus

Holmium: YAG Laser-Assisted Removal of a Lamb Bone Impacted in the Upper Oesophagus

This article reports an innovative and unprecedented use of Holmium: YAG laser in the extraction of a foreign body impacted in the upper oesophagus without complications. Hence, Holmium-YAG laser can be a safe, efficient and successful aid to fragment the impacted foreign bodies to assist in their removal.

Alarming Pneumomediastinum but Benign Outcome: a Case Report on Oesophageal Perforation by Foreign Body

A case of oesophageal perforation after endoscopic removal of foreign body is described. A 50-year-old female had a sharp fish bone impacted in the cervical oesophagus. After dislodging the bone at endoscopy, she developed neck pain and swelling. Chest X-ray showed alarming pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema. However, there was no leakage in the water-soluble contrast swallow. She was successfully managed conservatively. Early recognition and proper management of such a well-known complication are important to lower morbidity, especially in view of the fact that endoscopic removal of swallowed foreign bodies is being performed on an outpatient basis in some emergency departments. Special precaution should be given to sharp foreign bodies lodged at the cervical oesophagus.

Cervical esophageal perforation with severe mediastinitis due to an impacted dental prosthesis

We herein report about a case of perforation of the cervical esophagus by an artificial denture, which had been swallowed by the patient after a horse-related-injury. Impactation of the foreign body at the level of the upper esophageal sphincter was followed by its penetration through the esophageal wall, causing severe infection of the cervical soft tissue, mediastinitis and sepsis. We discuss the well-known phenomena of prosthesis ingestion and frequently delayed diagnosis, as well as our treatment strategy of cervical esophageal perforation with placement of a T-tube into the cervical esophagus and mediastinal drainage.