A piercing story: ingestion of a grill wire brush bristle

J Laryngol Otol. 2021 May;135(5):467-469. doi: 10.1017/S0022215121000694. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Abstract

Background: This paper reports the dangers of an ingested metal wire bristle from a barbeque brush, which resulted in oesophageal perforation.

Case report: A 49-year-old gentleman presented to the emergency department with foreign body sensation and odynophagia after having consumed barbequed lamb for lunch. Computed tomography of the neck demonstrated a thin linear opacity near the thoracic inlet. The object could not be visualised on emergent rigid oesophagoscopy. Subsequent neck exploration enabled localisation of a retropharyngeal abscess and a thin wire bristle from a barbeque brush.

Conclusion: Always consider the utensils employed in food preparation as a differential in ingested foreign bodies. Thin wire objects have a high propensity to migrate and result in complications, hence urgent intervention is vital.

Keywords: Esophageal Perforation; Foreign Bodies; Neck; Otolaryngology; Retropharyngeal Abscess.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Esophageal Perforation / diagnosis*
  • Esophageal Perforation / etiology*
  • Esophageal Perforation / surgery
  • Esophagus*
  • Foreign Bodies / diagnosis*
  • Foreign Bodies / etiology
  • Foreign Bodies / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed