PTP内服薬による気道および食道異物症の臨床

抄録

1) The author described 5 cases of accidental swallowing of PTP piece treated in his clinic. In 4 cases the pieces were staying in the esophagus and in the remaining 1 case the piece was staying in the air passage. 3 patients of them were over 70 years of age. The PTP pieces were removed under esophagoscopy except for 1 case in whom the piece passed down into the stomach.
2) The characteristics of the foreign body of PTP piece staying in the esophagus were discussed as follows from the present cases along with 48 cases which were reported in literature:
a) In the case of unconscious misswallowing of PTP piece it is extremely difficult to make accurate diagnosis.
b) Since PTP piece is as sharp-edged as a fish-bone or a chicken-bone, it is liable to become a foreign body if it is small enough to be swallowed.
c) The sharp edge may easily cause perforation on the esophagus wall and often develop mediastinitis in the result.
3) The author had reported 7 cases of PTP pieces stayed in the air passage. A PTP piece is thin and light, and tends to fly off. Therefore careful observation should be kept on the foreign body of PTP piece that happens to stay in the larynx and the trachea as well as in the esophagus.
4) The author discussed the importance of early diagnosis and of the precaution of the increasing incidence of PTP piece accident, and hoped to propose that pharmaceutical companies cease to make perforated lines on PTP plates which allow a cutt-off piece to become a foreign body.
5) As for the precaution against the occurrence of PTP piece accident, a more adequate formula should be devised for easy oral administration for aged patients in whom PTP piece accident is comparatively apt to happen and the treatment is also rather difficult.