Abstract
“Steakhouse Syndrome” occurs in patients who swallow meat without proper mastication or who have intrinsic esophageal disease. A history of excessive use of alcohol is frequently obtained and apparently contributes to a tendency for such patients to “bolt” their food and swallow a large bolus, which leads to the obstruction.
The enzymatic relief of “Steakhouse Syndrome” appears to be a safe and effective method of therapy, with few adverse effects. This method has been proven successful in many instances and offers an alternative to the reliable but lengthy and difficult procedure of endoscopic removal of the meat bolus.
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