We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 682 patients with esophageal FB at Dicle University School of Medicine Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department from January 1990 through june 1997. Rigid esophagoscopy was performed under general anesthesia.

Eight-eight per cent of our patients were 15 years old or younger. Ninety per cent of our patients admitted to hospital within 10 hours. Foreign body was located at the cricopharengeus level in 87% of the patients. Esophageal FBs were removed under direct vision (n=164) and by rigid esophagoscopy (n=477). In 41 patienst FB was found to be in the stomach which was confirmed by a second radiography. In these patients intervention was not performed. Surgical removal was performed in 3 cases. Esophageal perforation due to esophagoscopy occurred in 5 cases. In this series, mortality occurred only in one patient.

Early recognition and treatment of esophageal FBs is very important as their complications are serious and can be life-threatening. Radiologic evaluation is important in both diagnosis and in recognition of complication. Esophagoscopy is the safest method of esophageal FB removal.