# More than chest pain: A case of oesophageal foreign body ingestion

**Authors:** Mohammad M.A. Agbabiaka, Idris T. Akinwande, Chika K. Egenasi, Mathew O. Benedict

PMC · DOI: 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5942 · South African Family Practice · 2024-08-14

## TL;DR

A patient experienced chest pain due to a fishbone ingestion, highlighting the need to consider non-cardiac causes.

## Contribution

The case emphasizes the importance of considering foreign body ingestion as a cause of chest pain.

## Key findings

- Chest pain can result from foreign body ingestion, not just cardiac issues.
- Prompt diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent fatal complications.
- Comprehensive history taking is essential in evaluating chest pain.

## Abstract

Physicians often focus on possible cardiac causes in patients presenting with chest pain. However, this case highlights a patient who presented with chest pain caused by ingestion of a foreign body after an uneventful meal eaten an hour prior to presentation. The fishbone was discovered after imaging. The article aims to raise awareness regarding the potential origins of chest pain, highlighting that it may stem from non-cardiac conditions.

The methodology employed in this study involved conducting a case study that meticulously examined the repercussions and management strategies associated with foreign body ingestion.

The case report delineates the scenario of a 27-year-old male patient who inadvertently ingested a fishbone during a routine meal. It details the swift decline in clinical status, the meticulous diagnostic procedures employed, the subsequent management strategies implemented and the ultimate discharge of the patient in a stable condition.

This case highlights the importance of comprehensive history taking and considering a wide range of causes of chest pain when evaluating a patient. The foreign body ingested with the resulting cardiac complications could have been fatal if not promptly diagnosed.

This study contributed to advancing awareness surrounding foreign body ingestion, shedding light on potential complications and offering valuable insights into effective management strategies.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** foreign body ingestion (MESH:D005547), chest pain (MESH:D002637), cardiac complications (MESH:D006331)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11369581/full.md

## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11369581/full.md

## References

16 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11369581/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11369581