A Case Report of Non-intentional Foreign Body Ingestion in an Elderly Patient

Foreign body ingestion is a common problem that can result in severe consequences. It occurs commonly in children and rarely in adults. High-risk adults include illicit drug users, prisoners, edentulous adults, alcoholics, psychiatric patients, adults with mental retardation, or those with decreased oral tactile sensation. In adults, most foreign body impactions are seen in patients with pre-existing pathologies, such as malignancy, achalasia, strictures, and esophageal rings. Complications that foreign bodies may cause in some cases are tracheoesophageal fistula, aorto-esophageal fistula, and intramural perforation. This case illustrates the importance of including foreign body ingestion in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia in high-risk groups, even when no clear history suggests this as a cause, which may decrease the complications.