Glucagon Administration for Esophageal Foreign Bodies May Be Futile

Glucagon causes relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter smooth muscle, and thus has become a widely used therapy for esophageal foreign body impaction. However, evidence in favor of this practice is spotty at best. These investigators reviewed charts for 127 children and adults with esophageal foreign body impaction who received glucagon, and 29 such patients who did not, at two academic emergency departments from 2006 to 2010. Patients with esophageal abnormalities were excluded.

Food was the cause of impaction in roughly 90% of cases. Most patients in the glucagon group (56%) received concomitant treatment with other medications (e.g., nitroglycerin, benzodiazepines). Resolution of impaction occurred in 14% of patients who received glucag…