Gastrointestinal Radiology > Procedures > Foreign Bodies > Foreign Bodies (1)

Treatment of Food Impactions And Foreign Bodies in the Esophagus

Introduction

Although most swallowed objects pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract spontaneously, 10-20% have to be removed by a nonoperative procedure, and approximately 1% require surgery.  Infants and children typically swallow such things as coins, disk batteries, and small toys; however, most adults have problems with impacted food and bones.  Meat accounts for 70-80% of adult food impactions.  In most cases, a preexisting benign esophageal narrowing, such as a Schatzki ring, inflammatory stricture, or area of spasm, predisposes the patient to food impaction.