A statistical analysis was made on 639 cases of esophageal foreign bodies treated in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hirosaki and Tohoku Universities, during the years from 1949 to 1989 and from 1972 to 1989, respectively. The results were as follows:
1) The annual mean incidences of the disease were 9.8 and 13.3 at Hirosaki and Tohoku Univ., respectively. Year-to-year change in the incidence was not observed.
2) Male and female ratio was 4: 3, and 327 cases (51%) were under 6 years of age.
3) The foreign objects were coins (44%), fish bones (19%), dentures (12%), P.T.P. (press through pack of medicine, 4%) and others.
4) Comparison of the foreign objects between two periods, 1949-61 and 1982-89, revealed that the frequencies of the disease due to coins and fish bones decreased. P.T.P. and meat as foreign bodies occurred in the later period. These tendencies led to an increased variety of objects in recent years.
5) In the urban area the trends noted in 4) were more prominent than in the rural area.
6) It was noteworthy that in the rural area the aspiration of dentures was more frequent thanin the urban area.
7) Approximately 70% of the foreign bodies were lodged at the entrance of esophagus.
8) Complications of the disease, such as periesophageal abscess, mediastinitis and aspiration pneumonia, occurred only in 7 out of 303 cases in the recent 18 years.
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