Patient education: Food impaction – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").

What should I know? — 

You came to the ED for a "food impaction," also called a "food bolus." This is when a piece of food gets stuck in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

Sometimes, food gets stuck because it wasn't chewed enough. But often, it gets stuck because there is a problem with the esophagus, for example, it is narrower than normal.

Doctors usually treat a food impaction by using special tools to push it into the stomach or remove it through the mouth. Sometimes, they first try giving medicine to relax the esophagus. This might help the piece of food move to the stomach on its own. In other cases, you might vomit the food out.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also do the following:

●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment with a specialist called a "gastroenterologist," unless you were told you do not need to.

●Follow all the doctor's instructions about what to do after you go home. This includes things like what to do after sedation if you needed a procedure to remove the food. It also includes any changes to your diet or medicines.

●You might get food stuck again. To avoid this, it might help to:

•Eat slowly. Take small bites, and chew thoroughly.

•Drink sips of water as you eat.

When should I get emergency help?

●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:

•You have severe belly or chest pain that starts or worsens suddenly or is constant.

•Your belly gets very hard or swollen.

•You vomit many times over several hours.

•You have a lot of blood (more than 1 teaspoon, or 5 mL) in your bowel movement or vomit.

●Return to the ED if:

•Your bowel movements are black or tar colored.

•You vomit, and it has a small amount of blood (less than 1 teaspoon, or 5 mL) in it or something that looks like coffee grounds.

•You feel extremely weak or lightheaded.

•You cannot eat or drink, feel like food got stuck again, or spit up your saliva when you try to swallow it.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●Your bowel movements have a small amount of blood (less than 1 teaspoon, or 5 mL) in them.

●You have new or worsening symptoms.

More on this topic

Patient education: Dysphagia (The Basics)