Unusual Oesophageal Foreign Bodies in a Young Man with Mental Retardation: A Case Study

Background: Oesophageal foreign bodies are common in the ear, nose and throat practice. Unlike children, the occurrence in adults is due to accidental or deliberate self-harm. Delay in oesophageal foreign body retrieval could lead to unpleasant complications.

Aims: To highlight the occurrence of multiple and diverse oesophageal foreign bodies in a man with mental retardation.

Case Report: An 18-year-old man with background history of congenital mental retardation, deaf and dumb was brought to the out-patient clinic of the ENT Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. The presenting complaints were 7-days history of inability to take both fluid and solid diets, excessive salivation and progressive body weakness. The presence of the oesophageal foreign body was confirmed by chest x-ray. Had emergency rigid oesophagoscopy and foreign body removal of the impacted multiple stones and grasses. The patient was discharged home after seven days on admission and follow-up visits were uneventful.

Conclusion: A case of multiple, unusual and diverse oesophageal foreign body in a young man with background mental retardation. He had a satisfactory outcome with rigid therapeutic oesophagoscopy under general anaesthesia, despite, the delayed presentation.