Pulmonary injury following foreign body perforation of the esophagus: A case report

The ingestion of foreign bodies is a common emergency, particularly in children, but it can occur at any age. We report a case of 20-year-old patient with no medical history ingested a chicken bone during a meal, leading to unsuccessful endoscopic extraction at a local hospital. CT scanning revealed esophageal perforation at T4 level with erosion of the right pulmonary parenchyma near the azygos arch. A right posterolateral thoracotomy was performed, with successful removal of the bone fragment and closure of the esophageal perforation. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient discharged after 20 days and remaining stable at a 6-month follow-up. This case underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis and multidisciplinary management to prevent severe complications from foreign body ingestion.