Failure of standard methods for retrieving an unusual foreign body in esophagus: A case report.

RATIONALE

The ingestion of a foreign body (FB) with complete impaction of the esophagus is not common. Here we report a rare case of successful retrieval of a spherical stone in the esophagus of a man with mental retardation, using gallbladder grasping forceps and rigid endoscope.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A mental retarded man came to the emergency department presenting with recurrent nausea, vomiting, and dysphagia after swallowing a spherical stone. He had previously undergone an FB extraction under general anesthesia by fiberoptic esophagoscopy, which failed.

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of FB ingestion was confirmed by anteroposterior plain film x-ray of the chest and chest computed tomography (CT), which showed the ingested spherical FB in the upper esophagus.

INTERVENTIONS

After multiple failed attempts using other instruments, the FB was successfully removed with gallbladder grasping forceps through a rigid esophagoscope.

OUTCOMES

The patient was discharged without any complications. The nasogastric tube was extubated at the 10-day follow-up.

LESSONS SUBSECTIONS AS PER STYLE

For esophageal retrieval of uncommon FBs, the instrument used is crucial. We report our experience retrieving a large and spherical FB in the upper esophagus using gallbladder grasping forceps. This proved to be an effective strategy, eliminating the need for thoracotomy.