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Symptoms

Categories: FOREIGN BODIES IN THE ESOPHAGUS
Sources: A Manual Of Peroral Endoscopy And Laryngeal Surgery

Dysphagia is the most frequent complaint in cases of

esophageally lodged foreign bodies. A very small object may excite

sufficient spasm to cause aphagia, while a relatively large foreign

body may be tolerated, after a time, so that the swallowing function

may seem normal. Intermittent dysphagia suggests the tilting or

shifting of a foreign body in a valve-like fashion; but may be due to

occlusion of the by-passages by food arrested by the foreign body.

Dyspnea may be present if the foreign body is large enough to

compress the trachea. Cough may be excited by reflex irritation,

overflow of secretions into the larynx, or by perforation of the

posterior tracheal wall, traumatic or ulcerative, allowing leakage of

food or secretion into the trachea. (See Chapter XII for discussion of

symptomatology and diagnosis.)



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