Statistical Observation of Foreign Bodies in the Esophagus and Airway Treated in Our Clinic during a 5-Year Period

Abstract

Fifty-nine cases of foreign bodies in the esophagus and airway were treated in our clinic from 1981 to 1985. Of the 33 patients with esophageal foreign bodies,14 were males and 19 were females. Many of the esophageal foreign bodies were found in subjects younger than 5 years or older than 50 years of age. Coins were mainly found in the children younger than 5 years, and PTP pieces and artificial teeth were mainly found in those older than 50 years. Many of these were lodged at the entrance of esophagus.
Of the 26 patients with foreign bodies in the airway,23 were males and 3 were females. Most of foreign bodies in the airway occurred in the children, particularly between the age of 1 to 2 years. Peanuts were found in 16 cases. Most the foreign bodies in the airway were lodged at the right bronchus, but peanuts were lodged almost equally in the right and left bronchi.