Oesophageal Foreign Bodies Impaction in Nigerian Adults: A Preventable Consequence

Abstract

Background: Foreign body impaction in adults, is usually food related, with severe consequences when neglected. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of adults’ ≥ 18 years diagnosed with the impacted foreign body in the oesophagus, seen at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria, from December 2011 to December 2016. Results: The authors reviewed forty-four cases.  The age ranged from 18-90 years (mean age of 49.5±21.3), most of these patients 19(43. 2%) were above 60 years of age. A sharp foreign body was the commonest impacted foreign body, and the majority of them were fish bones 19 (43.2%) followed by dentures 11(25%). Meat bolus 6(13.6%) was the most common impacted food bolus. Majority of the impactions occurred at the upper oesophagus 32 (72.7%).     The patients with fish bone impaction 19 (43.2%), commonly engaged in  Various manoeuvres      to dislodge the impaction. Of this, 15 (78.9%) patients were reportedly engaged in these manoeuvres: by drinking copious water 10 (52.6%), food bolus ingestion 3 (15.8%) and induced vomiting 2 (10.5%). The identified risk factors include the duration > 24 hours (P < .05) of foreign body impaction, the presence of sharp objects 35 (79.5%) and self- medication 15 (34.1%). Mucosal abrasion with haemorrhage 12(28.6%) was the most common complication. We recorded no mortality during the study period. Conclusion: The Risk Factors for foreign body ingestion and factors contributing to delay presentation are preventable by the creation of awareness, thus minimising the associated complications.