Life threatening airway obstruction: a hazard of concealed eating disorders. Issue 5 (September 1998)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, T M; Luke, L C
• Is Part Of: Journal of accident & emergency medicine. Volume 15:Issue 5(1998)
• Page Start: 332
• Page End: 333
• Publication Date: 1998-09
• Subjects: Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1136/emj.15.5.332
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2633-6138

Abstract

Abstract : The ingestion of unusual objects is not uncommon in florid mental illness. Less common is the accidental ingestion of a foreign body which has been used to induce vomiting. A case is reported of complete dysphagia that resulted from impaction of a plastic fork in the hypopharynx. The patient had been attempting to induce vomiting and, as a result of the presentation, was found to be suffering from a previously concealed eating disorder (bulimia). Self induced vomiting is one criterion for the diagnosis of bulimia and a review of the literature indicates that accidental ingestion of large foreign bodies is an increasingly familiar hazard of occult bulimia.