Abstract: To evaluate the effects and advantages of propofol intravenous anesthesia in painless esophagoscopy for extraction of foreign bodies in the esophagus. Methods46 patients underwent painless esophagoscopy, and on other 46 patients undergoing conventional esophagoscopy served as the control. The successful rate，operative time and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. ResultsAdverse events of bucking, nausea and vomiting, restlessness breath holding in the painless group were much lower than those in the control group. There were statistic differences between the two groups(P＜0.005). However, the operative time and the successful rate were not significantly different between the two groups(P＞0.05). No severe complication was found in either group. None needed endotracheal intubation. ConclusionIntravenous sedation with propofol in extraction of foreign bodies in the esophagus can relieve the suffering and adverse reactions, and it is safe, quick, comfortable and effective for extraction of foreign bodies in the esophagus and is worthy to be applied in the clinic.

Key words: Propofol, Foreign body , Esophagoscopy