Luo Q, Tang L, Ye LS, Jiang ZJ, Mou Y, Hu B. Endoscopic removal of an embedded chicken bone in the esophagus: A case report. World J Gastrointest Endosc 2025; 17(2): 102501 [DOI: 10.4253/wjge.v17.i2.102501]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yi Mou, MD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. 125654639@qq.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Case Report
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Endosc. Feb 16, 2025; 17(2): 102501 Published online Feb 16, 2025. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v17.i2.102501
Endoscopic removal of an embedded chicken bone in the esophagus: A case report
Qi Luo, Lin Tang, Lian-Song Ye, Zhi-Jie Jiang, Yi Mou, Bing Hu
Qi Luo, Lian-Song Ye, Yi Mou, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Lin Tang, Department of Emergency Medicine, West China School of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Zhi-Jie Jiang, West China School of Clinical Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Bing Hu, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology/Medical Engineering Integration Laboratory of Digestive Endoscopy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Co-first authors: Qi Luo and Lin Tang.
Author contributions: Luo Q and Tang L contributed equally to this paper; Luo Q, and Tang L designed the study, collected, analyzed the data, and drafted the original manuscript; Jiang ZJ edited the images and revised the manuscript; Hu B, Mou Y and Ye LS were the principal investigator and revised the manuscript; All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to CARE Checklist (2016).
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Yi Mou, MD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. 125654639@qq.com
Received: October 21, 2024 Revised: December 18, 2024 Accepted: January 15, 2025 Published online: February 16, 2025 Processing time: 116 Days and 11.7 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Sharp foreign body ingestion can cause gastrointestinal tract mucosa injury and requires proper endoscopic removal. Typically, protective devices are used to reduce mucosal damage. This case presents an alternative approach for the endoscopic removal of a large, irregular, and sharp foreign body (chicken bone) when traditional protective devices are inadequate, thus contributing to the management of such ingestions.
CASE SUMMARY
A 57-year-old male presented with a history of swallowing an irregular and sharp-pointed chicken bone. Emergent endoscopy showed it was tightly embedded in the esophageal wall, with minor bleeding. The chicken bone was grasped and moved cautiously using a foreign forceps. It was loosened after repeated attempts but could not pass through the pharynx. Considering possible mucosal damage, it was carefully pushed into the stomach cavity and then wrapped in a condom. The chicken bone was retrieved uneventfully by grasping the open edge of the condom with foreign forceps. No additional damage was found, except for primary esophageal injuries caused by the embedded chicken bone. The patient was discharged on the following day. Our experience demonstrated that condoms can be an alternative as a protective device under such conditions.
CONCLUSION
Condoms can serve as an alternative when traditional protective devices are unsuitable. Because of its smooth and oily nature, it can provide mucosal protection and lubrication during endoscopic removal.
Core Tip: Sharp foreign body ingestion can cause gastrointestinal mucosa injury and requires proper endoscopic removal. Protective devices are usually used to reduce mucosal damage. In this case, we described a patient with a history of swallowing an irregular and sharp-pointed chicken bone. Emergent endoscopy showed it was tightly embedded in the esophageal wall, with minor bleeding. Considering the chicken bone was difficult to pass through the pharynx smoothly and may cause mucosal damage, we carefully pushed it into the stomach cavity and then wrapped it in a condom. The chicken bone was retrieved uneventfully and our experience demonstrated that condoms can be an alternative as a protective device in such condition.
