Experience with rigid esophagoscopy in Jos, north-central Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE Esophagoscopy which may be done for either a therapeutic or diagnostic reason has remained useful in the management of esophageal diseases. This study evaluates our experience with rigid esophagoscopy with special emphasis on esophageal foreign bodies in our unit. METHOD This is a six-year (January 2000-December 2005) retrospective review of cases of rigid esophagoscopy in the Ear, Nose and Throat Unit of our center. RESULTS Fifty-seven patients with ages ranging from 10 months 75 years were studied. There were 35 (61.4%) males and 22 (38.6%) females. Fifty-three of the patients (93%) had varying foreign bodies in the esophagus, 3 (5.2%) patients had carcinoma of the esophagus while 1 (1.8%) had pharyngeal pouch. The 0-10 year age group had the highest prevalence of esophageal foreign bodies (66.0%) with the middle third of the esophagus been the commonest site of impaction (58.5%). There was no fatality recorded. CONCLUSION Rigid esophagoscopy is a relatively safe procedure in trained hands and ideal environment with the necessary facilities in place.