Esophageal obstruction by a lemon that required esophagotomy: thoughts on prevention.

Abstract

A patient with pica and Lennox Gastaut syndrome suddenly refused oral intake. Neck radiographs revealed no foreign body. Barium swallow identified an irregular filling defect in the cervical esophagus. Esophagoscopy showed a gold ball-like object (half a lemon) 3 cm distal to the cricopharyngeus. This object had to be removed by esophagotomy after failed attempts with flexible and rigid esophagoscopy, laryngoscopy, and a Foley catheter. The charge for her 39-day hospitalization was $282,761. She had ingeniously procured and swallowed the lemon despite a full-face plastic shield and staff surveillance. In nonverbal persons, medically unexplainable abrupt food-refusal is an emergency. Prevention necessitates attention to pica, impulsivity, dentition, food consistency, eating utensils, seizures, environment, adaptive equipment, and surveillance.