Background: Esophageal foreign body is an emergency in Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) field. Although the occurrence is quite frequent, the exact incidence of esophageal foreign bodies is not known. The outcome of the management of esophageal foreign body depends on the foreign bodies and the patients’ characteristics, and operator’s experience. Data about characteristics of esophageal foreign bodies in Indonesia, especially in Bali, are lacking. 

Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with esophageal foreign body from January 2011 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The characteristics studied included age, sex, chief complaints, types of foreign body, radiological findings, management, foreign body location, and complications.

Results: This study obtained 117 cases as sample, consisting of 58.1% male and 41.9% female. Most cases in this study were found in children (40.2%).  The most reported main complaint was feeling something stuck in the throat (41.9%). In most cases (82.9%), foreign body was detected on radiological examinations. Extraction using rigid esophagoscopy was performed in 89.7% cases and surgery in 1.7% cases. The most common foreign body found were coins (30.8%). Foreign body impaction in cervical part of the esophagus occur in 67.5% cases. Most of the cases did not develop any complications (57.3%).

Conclusion: Esophageal foreign body is a prevalent case in our tertiary hospital, especially in children Most of the cases can be managed using rigid esophagoscopy without any complications. Only small number of cases required surgery. Extraction using rigid esophagoscope is still a safe and effective main management for esophageal foreign bodies.