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How To Remove Food Stuck In The Esophagus?

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Posted on Fri, 25 Apr 2014
Question: Hi there! I have a piece of corn chip that feels like it didn't go down my throat all the way. It is not blocking my airway, but is unconfortable when I swallow. Seems to be about even with XXXXXXX XXXXXXX on left side. I've drank tons of water, even a ginger ale that I thought might break it up with it's fizz. Ate more food to push it down. No luck ..Any ideas?? Thanks XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
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Answered by Dr. Enrique Molina (1 hour later)
Brief Answer: go to the ER Detailed Answer: it seems you have food stuck in the esophagus (or as you said, in your "throat"), where the food is supposed to go down basically. If you are breathing ok, then that is good, as that means the food did not go to your airway or lungs. unfortunately there is not much that you can do at home to make the food go down, if it is indeed stuck. This is actually considered a real emergency for a gastroenterologist. If the food gets stuck in the esophagus for too long (over 6 - 12 hours) then you can get a big ulcer, which can actually perforate and you end up with surgery!! just for having a piece of food stuck! In the ER you can get an injection of a medication (called glucagon) that sometimes relaxes the esophagus and helps the food go down, but if that doesn't work you would need an endoscopy (a camera placed into your esophagus / stomach to remove the piece of food). Don't eat anything else until that piece of food is no longer there.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Enrique Molina

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 364 Questions

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How To Remove Food Stuck In The Esophagus?

Brief Answer: go to the ER Detailed Answer: it seems you have food stuck in the esophagus (or as you said, in your "throat"), where the food is supposed to go down basically. If you are breathing ok, then that is good, as that means the food did not go to your airway or lungs. unfortunately there is not much that you can do at home to make the food go down, if it is indeed stuck. This is actually considered a real emergency for a gastroenterologist. If the food gets stuck in the esophagus for too long (over 6 - 12 hours) then you can get a big ulcer, which can actually perforate and you end up with surgery!! just for having a piece of food stuck! In the ER you can get an injection of a medication (called glucagon) that sometimes relaxes the esophagus and helps the food go down, but if that doesn't work you would need an endoscopy (a camera placed into your esophagus / stomach to remove the piece of food). Don't eat anything else until that piece of food is no longer there.