Abstract
The case was a 78-year-old male, complicated with dementia, who consulted our hospital for pneumonia and appetite loss. When we conducted a CT scan of the lung, we incidentally discovered one Press-Through-Pack (PTP) in the upper part of the esophagus, and a deep neck abscess was suspected around the left lobe of thyroid gland. We removed the PTP by direct esophagoscopy and performed a drainage operation for the deep neck abscess. At 6 days postoperation, inflammatory signs appeared from the abdomen. We therefore conducted a CT scan. Four PTPs were noted in the rectum. These were removed using an anoscope by a general surgeon.
During the 5-year period from 2002 to 2006, 28 patients with esophageal foreign bodies were treated in our hospital. The kinds of foreign bodies were PTP, denture, saburra, fish bone, and others. In 22 patients, foreign bodies were located in the first narrow part of the esophagus. There were no cases of foreign body presenting in many parts of the digestive tract in our hospital. We have to examine all diseases and investigate the possible presence of foreign bodies carefully in patients such as those with dementia.
