Background: Esophageal food impaction is common, but incidence data are lacking and management is controversial. This is a survey of its epidemiology, endoscopic findings, and treatment.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 194 adults with 223 episodes of esophageal food impaction in a health maintenance organization. Of these, 192 (99%) patients were followed a median of 31 months (range 1-72) post-disimpaction.
Results: The estimated annual incidence rate of episodes was 13.0 per 100,000, and the male:female ratio was 1.7:1. The rate increased with age, especially after the seventh decade. The bolus was meat in 189 (85%) episodes. Flexible esophagoscopy was performed initially in 222 (99.6%) episodes and permitted disimpaction in 218 (98%). The push technique was used alone or in combination with extraction in 186 (84%). Immediate dilation was performed in 172 (79%). There were no major complications. A final diagnosis was made in 171 (88%), including 151 (78%) with a Schatzki's ring or peptic stricture, and the diagnosis had changed during follow-up in 14 (7%). A diagnosis of Schatzki's ring was associated with gender (p = 0.03) and decreased with increasing age (p = 0.003), especially among women.
Conclusions: Esophageal food impaction is common and can nearly always be treated safely with flexible esophagoscopy, usually with the push technique.