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Esophagus: foreign body
Synonym(s): oesophagus
Introduction
- Acquired by hunting and playing behavior.
- String, fish hooks, needles, bones and hair balls.
- Common sites: thoracic inlet, heart base, cardia.
- Signs: regurgitation: dysphagia, gagging, retching, anorexia, pyrexia.
- Diagnosis: radiography, endoscopy.
- Treatment: removal.
- Prognosis: guarded.
Presenting signs
- Acute onset.
- Regurgitation.
- Dysphagia.
- Hypersalivation.
- Gagging.
- Retching.
- Respiratory signs (due to regurgitation and aspiration).
Needle ingestion
- Thread wrapped round tongue or protruding from mouth.
Chronic obstruction
- Dehydration +/- electrolyte loss (due to persistent regurgitation).
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Acquired by hunting and playing behavior.
Pathophysiology
- Persistent regurgitation → dehydration → electrolyte loss.
- Penetration of the cervical esophagus → contamination and cellulitis of the cervical tissue.
- Thoracic perforation → catastrophic mediastinitis and pleurisy.
- Larger foreign bodies → rapid deterioration because of the greater likelihood of pressure necrosis and perforation.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Cerny J H (1996) Alternative method for retrieving fishhooks from dogs and cats. JAVMA 208 (2), 184 PubMed.
- Michels G M, Jones B D, Huss B T et al (1995) Endoscopic and surgical retrieval of fishhooks from the stomach and esophagus in dogs and cats - 75 cases (1977-1993). JAVMA 207 (9), 1194-1197 PubMed.
- Hurov L (1985) What is your diagnosis? Esophageal foreign body. JAVMA 187 (7), 749-750 PubMed.
- Van Stee E W, Ward C L, Duffy M L et al (1980) Recurrent esophageal hairballs in a cat (a case report). Vet Med Sm Anim Clin 75 (12), 1873-1878 PubMed.
- Kleine L J (1974) Radiologic examination of the esophagus in dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am 4 (4), 663-686 PubMed.