Abstract
A case of recurrent foreign bodies in the esophagus of a child was reported. At the time of the first incident, the girl, aged two and a half, had a piece of meat caught in the esophagus. The second time, a year later, it was a piece of sausage. In both cases the foreign bodies were endoscopically removed by forceps. Roentgenological and endoscopical examinations showed no organic change in the esophagus. In both instances, the foreign bodies were located in the same place, where the middle third of the esophagus joins the lower third and where the musculature of the esophagus wall comes to be composed solely of smooth muscles. Thus, it was presumed that in this case the incidents were caused by some functional constriction resulting from peculiarities in the anatomical structure of the organ, actions of the smooth muscles, and innervations, as well as a functional disturbance of the autonomic nervous system. In addition, I made some proposals for preventing foreign body accidents.
