Esophagotomy and primary closure due to foreign body in the upper esophagus

Abstract

Esophageal foreign bodies are a common problem in the emergency department, usually due to accidental ingestion. We report the case of a 50-year-old otherwise healthy female patient who sought medical care due to dysphagia, odynophagia and cervical pain after swallowing a partial denture while having lunch. The patient underwent X-rays and a computed tomography (CT) scan which showed a radiopaque image in the upper esophagus. After a failed attempt to remove the denture through endoscopy, surgery was decided via a left lateral emergency cervicotomy with esophagotomy, foreign body removal and primary closure of the esophagus. Esophageal obstruction due to foreign bodies may cause many complications. Treatment delays may result in increased mortality. Thus, in this case we prioritized surgery due to high risk of perforation and bleeding.