Open AccessWatch it grow: Esophageal impaction with chia seeds
Author(s) -
Andrew Simmelink,
Rebecca Rawl,
Lauren Browne,
Martin Scobey
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2332-7251
pISSN - 2332-7243
DOI - 10.5430/crim.v4n2p49
Subject(s) - eosinophilic esophagitis , impaction , medicine , perforation , foreign body , incidence (geometry) , epidemiology , gastroenterology , environmental health , surgery , disease , materials science , physics , optics , punching , metallurgy
Esophageal obstructions are a medical emergency, due to inability to control secretions and risk of perforation. Epidemiology of esophageal foreign-body impaction has evolved to include increasing incidence of non-meat food causes as well as increasing underlying prevalence of pathologies including eosinophilic esophagitis. Chia seeds, a staple known for health benefits, have an uncanny ability to absorb large quantities of water leading to a hydrated gel-like substance which can cause an obstruction. We report the first case of chia seed impaction in a patient with likely eosinophilic esophagitis.