Life-threatening esophageal perforation due to blister pack ingestion

Most ingested foreign bodies do not cause serious complications. In rare cases, elderly people with cognitive de-cline may unintentionally swallow a blister pack while trying to take medicine. When a blister pack is separated into individual parts, the separated parts have sharp edges that can cause serious damage if ingested. We report a case of an elderly patient who unintentionally ingested a blister pack, which led to esophageal perforation and ultimately his death.(C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Although most ingested foreign bodies do not cause serious complications, in rare cases, elderly individuals with cognitive decline may accidentally swallow a blister pack while attempting to take medication. When a blister pack is separated into individual parts, the sharp edges of the separated parts can cause significant damage if ingested. We present a case report of an elderly patient who unintentionally ingested a blister pack, resulting in esophageal perforation and eventual death.