From the Guidelines
The most effective treatment for esophageal food impaction caused by fruits and vegetables is urgent interventional endoscopy to remove the food bolus and take oesophageal biopsies, as recommended by the British Society of Gastroenterology and British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition joint consensus guidelines 1. The treatment approach involves a step-wise method, starting with reassurance and assessment of the risk of perforation.
- Urgent endoscopy is necessary to remove the food bolus and take biopsies to diagnose underlying conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) 1.
- There is no evidence to support the use of conservative treatments like fizzy drinks, baclofen, salbutamol, or benzodiazepines in managing this condition 1.
- During endoscopy, gentle pushing of the food bolus into the stomach or retrieval using tools like forceps, snares, or retrieval nets may be attempted 1.
- For patients with suspected EoE, treatment with proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole 20-40 mg daily or equivalent) should be initiated 1.
- Prevention of recurrence involves addressing underlying conditions, proper chewing of food, avoiding large bites of fibrous vegetables and fruits, and staying well-hydrated during meals. The urgency of treatment depends on the patient's ability to handle secretions and breathe normally, with complete obstruction requiring immediate intervention 1.
From the Research
Esophageal Food Impaction
- Esophageal food impaction is a condition where food gets stuck in the esophagus, and it can be caused by various factors, including eating certain types of food such as fruits and vegetables.
- The treatment for esophageal food impaction caused by fruits and vegetables is not directly addressed in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Related Studies
- However, study 6 discusses the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, which may be related to esophageal food impaction.
- The study found that patients receiving glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapy exhibited significantly higher rates of retained gastric content, which could potentially contribute to esophageal food impaction 6.
Treatment Options
- Although the provided studies do not directly address the treatment for esophageal food impaction caused by fruits and vegetables, other treatment options such as nifedipine and isosorbide dinitrate are discussed in studies 2, 3, 4, 5.
- These studies suggest that nifedipine and isosorbide dinitrate can be effective in treating certain conditions, but their relevance to esophageal food impaction is unclear 2, 3, 4, 5.