Removal of Rare Esophageal Impacted foreign Bodies Using an Endoscopic Esophageal Balloon Catheter with an Attached PTCA Inflation Device

We herein report two very rare cases of esophageal foreign bodies that were removed using an endoscopic esophageal balloon dilation catheter with an attached percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA)inflation device. Esophageal food impaction is a common medical emergency that often requires endoscopic therapy. However, the cases we report involve an ume seed and a shell, respectively, which are very rare in food impaction. We attempted to remove the foreign bodies using the usual endoscopic removal technique,but were unable to do so. As an alternative approach, we used an endoscopic esophageal balloon dilation catheter, and this proved to be successful and safe. Therefore, we conclude that this removal technique is useful for difficult cases of food impaction that cannot be treated using the normal procedure