Point of Care Ultrasound for the Detection of Esophageal Food Bolus

Summary

This will be a prospective, observational, case-control study of adult patients presenting to the WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department (YHED) with signs and symptoms of esophageal food or foreign body impaction. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) will then be performed by a trained emergency physician to collect ultrasound data, including the presence or absence of direct visualization food bolus/foreign body, as well as secondary markers of dilatation, such as maximal esophageal area. Investigators will also enroll an age/sex-matched control group of asymptomatic individuals to establish baseline esophageal measurements. Patients will otherwise receive medical treatment per standard of care. Subsequent interventions will also be documented, including glucagon, carbonated beverages, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). If patients remain in the ED and improve without need for EGD they will undergo repeat ultrasound. Chart review at 1 month will be performed to establish results of EGD including improvement, recurrence, or presence of pathologic abnormalities. The investigators aim to establish normal and abnormal parameters to aid in the diagnosis of esophageal food impactions to predict need for definitive EGD management.

Eligibility

Age range

18+ years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Diagnostic Test
  Point of care ultrasound

  Point of care medical ultrasound machines will be used to sonographically visualize the esophagus and following sonographic data will be collected: * Presence/absence of suspected foreign body * Sonographic esophageal measurements (diameters, area) * Other relevant secondary sonographic findings

Location