Review of oesophageal foreign bodies in Harare Central Hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To review our experience in the management of patients with oesophageal foreign bodies.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

Harare Central Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.

SUBJECTS: Sixty eight patients who presented with foreign body ingestion from October 1990 to December 1991.

INTERVENTION: All but two patients underwent rigid oesophagoscopic examination.

RESULTS

Sixty five of the cases with foreign bodies in the oesophagus had their foreign bodies retrieved by rigid oesophagoscopic procedure.

CONCLUSION

A high index of suspicion will help in early diagnosis especially in children who present with recent and inexplicable onset of respiratory symptoms.