Introduction

Esophageal foreign body is a common indication for surgery in the small animal clinical routine, which can be retrieved endoscopically. Rigid endoscopes are seldom used for foreign body retrieval, although they are cost effective and easier to operate than flexible gastroscopes.

Objective

To describe a case series of successful use of an operative laparoscope for esophageal foreign body removal in dogs.

Methods

A retrospective/descriptive study in a two-year experience (2011–2013) of the use of a rigid endoscope to remove esophageal foreign bodies in 7 dogs under general anesthesia was carried out. A standard 10-mm, 27-cm working length rigid telescope with a 6-mm working channel and a 42-cm long, 5-mm Babcock forceps were used in all cases. The overall procedure time and epidemiologic data were recorded.

Results

All patients were successfully treated endoscopically. Mean overall procedure time was 15.2 ± 3.7 minutes (range 3.5–32.3 minutes). Most frequent foreign bodies were chicken bones (57.1%). Four patients (57.1%) were male, five (71.4%) were among 3–6 months old, and two were adult, and all patients were small-size dogs (mean 4.6 ± 1.0 kg, range 2.2–8.6 kg). Regarding breeds, three Shi-Tzu, one Poodle, one Pinscher, and two mongrel dogs were treated. The foreign body was found caudal to the cardiac base area and right cranial to the cardia in five (71.4%) and right cranially to the cardiac base in two (28.6%) dogs.

Conclusions

The operative laparoscope was effective and should be considered for noninvasive treatment of esophageal foreign bodies in small-size dogs, besides other surgical or nonsurgical interventions.