How to determine if there is a foreign body in the esophagus?

summary

The clinical characteristics of esophageal foreign bodies are related to the location, size and nature of the foreign bodies. Most patients have symptoms after the occurrence of esophageal foreign body, but Boyd's statistics shows that about 10% of the patients have no symptoms. Usually, the severity of symptoms is related to the characteristics, location of the foreign body and the degree of damage to the esophageal wall. How to determine whether there is a foreign body in the esophagus? Let's talk about it

How to determine if there is a foreign body in the esophagus?

Dysphagia is related to the degree of esophageal obstruction caused by foreign bodies. In patients with complete obstruction, dysphagia was obvious, fluid was difficult to swallow, and nausea and vomiting occurred immediately after swallowing; For those with small foreign body, they can still enter liquid or semi liquid diet. Individual patients have mild dysphagia, even without any symptoms, and can be delayed for months or years

When the foreign body enters the esophagus accidentally, there is usually air top at the beginning, followed by the feeling of foreign body obstruction in the esophagus. If the foreign body is in the cervical esophagus, the symptoms are more obvious. Patients can usually point out that the foreign body is in the suprasternal fossa or the lower part of the neck; If the foreign body is in the thoracic esophagus, there may be no obvious obstruction feeling, or only the obstruction feeling and dull pain of the foreign body behind the sternum.

The pain of the upper esophagus is the most significant, often located in the center of the root of the neck; The pain in the middle esophagus may be behind the sternum, sometimes radiating to the back, and the pain is not serious; Lower esophageal pain is lighter, which can cause upper abdominal discomfort or pain. Pain often indicates the degree of esophageal wall damage caused by esophageal foreign body. Severe pain is the signal of esophageal muscle damage caused by foreign body, which should be paid attention to.

matters needing attention

Eat slowly, not in a hurry. It should be paid more attention to the old people who have lost more teeth or use denture brackets. The damaged dentures should be repaired in time to avoid loosening, falling off and swallowing. Absolute fasting is needed in the early days.