Incidence, etiology, radiological features and management of esophageal obstruction in animals

Thirty-two clinical cases presented for cervical and thoracic oesophageal obstruction served basis of this study. Out of 32 cases, 31 were cervical obstruction (97%) and one was thoracic oesophageal obstruction. Out of 32, 28 obstructions were in buffaloes (87.5%), two in bullocks (6.25%), one each in a bull calf (3.12%) and a dog (3.12%). Out of 28 buffaloes, 25 (90%) were in advanced pregnancy suggesting pregnancy as a predisposing etiological factor. Remaining three were young buffalo calves. The main etiology for obstruction was a hard-rolled rexin foreign body in 23 cases of buffaloes (72%) suggesting industrial and township influence. Less common etiological factors were obstruction due to grass in young weaning calves (6.25%), cotton dress (6.25%), stone (3.12%), calcification and hypertrophy of trachea (6.25%) and oesophagotracheal fistula (3.12%). Palpation, passage of stomach tube did not provide diagnosis of all the types of oesophageal obstruction. Plain and contrast radiological examinations and exploratory surgery were required to diagnose uncommon obstructions such as oesophageal adhesions and rupture along with haemorrhagic septicaemia, oesophagrotacheal fistula and calcification and hypertrophy of trachea. Treatment using conservative method of passing a stomach tube was successful only in two cases and remaining 30 cases (94%) required surgery. Cervical oesophagotomy was done in 29 cases and rumenotomy in one case to relieve obstruction. Complete recovery was seen in thirty cases (94%) with foreign body choke and no treatment was possible in three cases of calcification and hypertrophy of trachea and in one case of large pharyngo-oesophageal-tracheal fistula.