Removal of oesophageal foreign bodies: comparison between oesophagoscopy and oesophagotomy in 39 dogs

OBJECTIVESTo compare complication rates and outcomes after removal of oesophageal foreign bodies by endoscopy or by oesophagotomy. METHODSRetrospective evaluation of medical records of dogs with oesophageal foreign bodies treated by endoscopy and/or oesophagotomy. Postoperative clinical signs, management, length of hospitalisation, type and rate of complications, and time interval to return to eating conventional diet were compared. RESULTSThirty-nine dogs diagnosed with oesophageal foreign bodies between 1999 and 2011 were included in the study. Most common breeds included West Highland white terrier, Jack Russell terrier and shih-tzu. Successful endoscopic removal was possible in 24 out of 32 cases (Group 1), while surgical removal was successful in 15 out of 15 cases (7 of which had unsuccessful attempts at endoscopic removal) (Group 2). Length of hospitalisation, time to removal of gastrostomy tube and time to eat conventional diet did not differ between the groups. After foreign body removal, the incidence of oesophagitis, oesophageal stricture and perforation observed during repeated endoscopy were similar between the groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEIn this retrospective study, removal of oesophageal foreign bodies either by oesophagoscopy or oesophagotomy had a similar outcome.