A wristwatch in the esophagus associated with esophageal perforation: report of an intriguing case

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012 Mar;60(2):172-4. doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1270947. Epub 2011 Apr 7.

Abstract

Foreign bodies in the esophagus are commonly seen in emergency medicine. We report here on a very rare case of a working wristwatch in the esophagus, which was successfully extracted by surgical intervention along with primary repair of the perforated cervical esophagus through a transcervical incision. This watch was impacted for 4 days in the cervical esophagus of an adult schizophrenic patient and resulted in cervical esophageal perforation associated with acute deep neck infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Debridement
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Esophageal Perforation / diagnostic imaging
  • Esophageal Perforation / etiology*
  • Esophageal Perforation / microbiology
  • Esophageal Perforation / surgery
  • Foreign Bodies / complications*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neck Pain / etiology
  • Radiography
  • Schizophrenia / complications
  • Suture Techniques
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents