Foreign body impaction in the esophagus: are there underlying motor disorders?

Conservative management of oesophageal soft food bolus impaction

BACKGROUND

Impaction of a soft food bolus in the oesophagus causes dysphagia and regurgitation. If the bolus does not pass spontaneously, then the patient is at risk of aspiration, dehydration, perforation, and death. Definitive management is with endoscopic intervention, recommended within 24 hours. Prior to endoscopy, many patients undergo a period of observation, awaiting spontaneous disimpaction, or may undergo enteral or parenteral treatments to attempt to dislodge the bolus. There is little consensus as to which of these conservative strategies is safe and effective to be used in this initial period, before resorting to definitive endoscopic management for persistent impaction.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of non-endoscopic conservative treatments in the management of soft food boluses impacted within the oesophagus.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases, using relevant search terms: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL. The date of the search was 18 August 2019. We screened the reference lists of relevant studies and reviews on the topic to identify any additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials of the management of acute oesophageal soft food bolus impaction, in adults and children, reporting the incidence of disimpaction (confirmed radiologically or clinically by return to oral diet) without the need for endoscopic intervention. We did not include studies focusing on sharp or solid object impaction.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures recommended by Cochrane.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 890 unique records through the electronic searches. We excluded 809 clearly irrelevant records and retrieved 81 records for further assessment. We subsequently included one randomised controlled trial that met the eligibility criteria, which was conducted in four Swedish centres and randomised 43 participants to receive either intravenous diazepam followed by glucagon, or intravenous placebos. The effect of the active substances compared with placebo on rates of disimpaction without intervention is uncertain, as the numbers from this single study were small, and the rates were similar (38% versus 32%; risk ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 2.75, P = 0.69). The certainty of the evidence using GRADE for this outcome is low. Data on adverse events were lacking.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is currently inadequate data to recommend the use of any enteral or parenteral treatments in the management of acute oesophageal soft food bolus impaction. There is also inadequate data regarding potential adverse events from the use of these treatments, or from potential delays in definitive endoscopic management. Caution should be exercised when using any conservative management strategies in these patients.

Role of imaging in the assessment of impacted foreign bodies in the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus

Impaction of foreign bodies in the upper digestive tract is a serious pathologic condition in ear, nose, and throat practice and is particularly common in children, prisoners, and psychiatric patients. Commonly found objects include fish bones, chicken bones, pieces of glass, dental prostheses, coins, and needles. The goals of the initial patient assessment are to identify the type of object, its location in the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of any associated complications, and the presence of any underlying esophageal conditions. Radiographic evaluation is helpful to confirm the location of foreign bodies and associated complications. Plain films of the neck and chest commonly will show the location of radiopaque objects, such as coins. Both anteroposterior and lateral views are necessary, as some radiopaque objects overlying the vertebral column may only be visible on the lateral view. Multidetector row computed tomography is superior to plain radiographs for the detection of pharyngoesophageal foreign bodies and provide additional crucial information for the management of complicated cases especially related to sharp or pointed ingested foreign bodies.

Causes of bolus impaction in the esophagus

BACKGROUND

Bolus impaction in the esophagus is a common indication for emergency endoscopy. The aim of this study was to determine the most common causes of esophageal bolus impaction.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, data of 54 patients (41 male, 13 female) with bolus impaction in the esophagus were analyzed. Type and localization of the bolus and the endoscopic extraction tool used were evaluated. In 48 of 54 patients (89%), biopsy samples were taken of the esophagus for histological examination.

RESULTS

Mean age of the patients was 53 ± 20 years. Fourteen of 54 patients (26%) had experienced bolus impaction previously. Meat bolus (n = 35, 65%) was the most common cause of esophageal obstruction. In most cases, boluses were found in either the distal (n = 31) or the proximal (n = 18) esophagus. In 22 patients (41%), the bolus was pushed into the stomach by the endoscope. In most other cases the bolus, including foreign bodies, could be removed with the 5-arm polyp grasper or alligator forceps. Main causes of bolus impaction were eosinophilic esophagitis (n = 10) or reflux disease with or without peptic stenosis (n = 10), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Bolus impaction is frequently correlated with eosinophilic esophagitis and reflux esophagitis; therefore, diagnostic workup should include esophageal biopsy sampling.

Foreign bodies

The spectrum of gastrointestinal (GI) foreign bodies includes food bolus impaction in the esophagus, nonfood objects that are swallowed, and various objects that may be inserted into the rectum. The risk depends upon the type of object and its location. Fortunately, 80% to 90% of ingested foreign bodies will pass without intervention. Objects with sharp edges or pointed tips have the highest risk of complications, up to 35%. All objects impacted in the esophagus require urgent or emergent treatment. Rectal foreign bodies are usually removable transanally, although general anesthesia and operative intervention sometimes are required.

Esophageal foreign bodies: Types and techniques for removal

Patients with esophageal foreign bodies require prompt diagnosis and therapy. The first tasks are to determine the type of object, time since ingestion, location of the object, and the likelihood of associated complications. Patients who have evidence of complete esophageal occlusion or who have ingested a sharp or pointed object require urgent treatment due to the increased risk of complications. Button batteries are particularly injurious in the esophagus and should be removed immediately. Coins in the esophagus should also be removed; however, a brief period of observation is appropriate for coins in the distal esophagus, as some will pass spontaneously. Flexible endoscopy is the therapeutic modality of choice for most patients. The key principles for endoscopic management of esophageal foreign bodies are to protect the airway, to maintain control of the object during extraction, and to avoid causing additional damage. Endotracheal intubation is sometimes necessary, especially in younger children and those at higher risk for aspiration. The use of devices such as an esophageal overtube and a latex protector hood may facilitate safer extraction of sharp/pointed objects. Patients with food impactions usually require treatment of an associated structural lesion of the esophagus.

Esophageal motor disorders

A consolidation of ideas regarding the pathogenesis and management of esophageal motor disorders occurred over the past year. The development and application of diagnostic techniques has stimulated new thinking about the events responsible for peristalsis and has provided novel avenues for studying mechanisms of symptom production. Achalasia remains the most investigated and understood motor disorder, and the year's research focused heavily on management approaches for this important condition. Other topics addressed in this review include proximal esophageal symptoms and disorders, spastic disorders, and esophageal hypomotility.