Current Management of Esophageal Impactions

We analyzed our experience at a university medical center from 1977 to 1990 to assess our success in using esophagoscopy and related treatments for removing esophageal impactions. There were 157 episodes of impaction in 150 patients, consisting of 39 pediatric and 111 adult patients. In the pediatric cases, foreign bodies were most often the cause of impaction, while adult cases were usually caused by food or bones. Esophagoscopy was performed successfully in 32 of 34 pediatric patients in which it was attempted; there was only one complication. Other forms of therapy that were infrequently tried met with variable results. Esophagoscopy was successful in removing the impaction in 104 of 109 attempts in adults. Two perforations occurred, with one resulting in death. Various other methods achieved success in the remaining patients. The data suggest that esophageal impaction can be treated successfully by endoscopy with very low morbidity and mortality.