Successful management of full-length obstructing esophageal bezoars in an intensive care unit

Excerpt

To the editor: Sir, Esophageal bezoars represent a rare but severe and difficult to treat complication in patients in an intensive care unit. Esophageal bezoars usually result form enteral feeding, sucralfate, administration of other antacids and from plurimedication [1]. Esophageal bezoar formation seems also to be aggravated by previous thoracic surgery, impaired esophago-gastric motility, reduced lower esophageal sphincter tone, gastroesophageal reflux [3], the presence of a prosthetic device in the esophagus, restrictive hydration and use of morphinic compounds [2]. Esophageal bezoars are known to occur more frequently in patients with structural or functional abnormalities of the esophagus such as esophagitis, mechanical irritation by the nasogastric tube and myasthenia gravis. …