Muhammad Ahmed Zaman¹, MBBS, Amna Rashid Hanfee², MBBS, Hasan Tauqeer³, MBBS, Yumna Shahid⁴, MBBS, Waqar Hussain⁵, MBBS

¹Department of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Email: ahmedzamannn@gmail.com

²Department of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Email: amnarashid001@gmail.com

³Department of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Email:

hasan.tauqeer24@alumni.aku.edu

⁴Department of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Email: yumnashahid664@gmail.com

⁵Department of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Email: waqar.shah@aku.edu

Corresponding Author: Muhammad Ahmed Zaman, Department of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Email: ahmedzamannn@gmail.com

Citation: Muhammad Ahmed Zaman, Amna Rashid Hanfee, Hasan Tauqeer, Yumna Shahid, Waqar Hussain, (2026). Pill Packet Predicament: Dysphagia as a Complication of Blister Pack Ingestion. American J Case Rep Clin Imag. 2026; Jan, 4(1), 1-3.

Copyrights © 2026, Muhammad Ahmed Zaman, et al, This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-4.0-International-License-(CCBY-NC) (https://amejcaserepclinimag.com/blogpage/copyright-policy). Usage and distribution for commercial purposes require written permission.

Highlights:

1. Blister pack ingestion is a rare but dangerous cause of acute esophageal obstruction in adults.
2. Normal radiography does not exclude esophageal foreign bodies, particularly non-radiopaque materials.
3. Dormia basket retrieval may be effective when standard forceps fail for rigid, irregular objects.
4. Early endoscopic intervention leads to rapid symptom resolution and prevents complications
5. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for packaging ingestion in sudden-onset dysphagia.

Abstract:

Foreign body ingestion is a common indication for urgent endoscopy, most often seen in children and elderly individuals. Accidental ingestion of medication blister packs is rare but potentially hazardous due to their rigid structure. We report a case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with a six-hour history of sudden-onset dysphagia and odynophagia. A chest radiograph was unremarkable. Emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a whole tablet still encased in its silver blister packaging lodged in the mid-esophagus, with associated mucosal erythema and ulceration. Retrieval with biopsy forceps was unsuccessful, and the foreign body was successfully removed using a Dormia basket. The patient experienced immediate symptom relief and had complete resolution on follow-up with conservative medical management. This case highlights blister pack ingestion as an uncommon but important cause of acute dysphagia in adults and emphasizes the role of timely endoscopic intervention.

Keywords: Foreign body ingestion; Dysphagia; Blister pack; Esophageal obstruction; Endoscopy.