Procedure:
Oesophagoscopy (examination of the
oesophagus or food pipe) and removal of the
foreign body if present.
Risks of this procedure:
(a) Injury to the lips, teeth, gums or tongue.
Dental injury may result in teeth being
chipped, broken or dislodged.
(b) Perforation or rupture of the oesophagus.
This may lead to a serious infection in the
neck or chest which is life threatening.
Surgery involving the neck and/or chest is
usually required to repair the perforation
and treat the infection and a prolonged stay
in hospital will be required. This infection,
or the surgery required to treat the
perforation, may cause injury to the larynx
(voice box) or the nerves controlling the
larynx resulting in an abnormal voice.
(c) Voice change. The larynx (voice box) or
the nerves controlling the larynx may be
injured by the instruments used for the
oesophagoscopy. Voice change may also
result from perforation of the oesophagus
as outlined above.