Meat Tenderizers

My preface and disclaimer: I KNOW this is a stupid question that I should have learned many years ago. Forgive me. I've read that meat tenderizer is a possible solution if one's pouch outlet gets obstructed with food....drink some water with that in it. So, in two weeks I'll get to start some of the more regular type foods and want to have some meat tenderizer on hand. Here is the question:. I have scoured several grocery store spice/cooking aisles and can't find anything that is meat tenderizer. Is it all sold under brand names that don't say anywhere on the bottle that they are meat tenderizers.  Any suggestions as what to buy would be great. For any of you that have had your pouch blocked, did you try this trick and did it help?? Thanks bunches!

Basically meat tenderizer is papaya enzymes, which you can get at a health food store.  I haven' tried it... but I know people uae it regardless of WLS as a digestive aid.

I use Papaya Enzymes when I have this trouble.  You can purchase them at GNC & The Vitamin Shoppe.

Adolph's is a brand name that you can buy. Its normally in the same aisle as Lawrys Seasoned Salt, but any brand will do. I have never had to use it though.

as most of these posters said papaya enzymes works equal as well, since the meat tenderizer is made of papaya.... and the enzymes is chewable so it's easy to take and can be carried with you anywhere.... and the meat tenderizer tastes yucky.... lol  I've used both with great results....

My doctor said to use diet coke, with the carbonation to avoid this.  Did not think that we could do that, but that is what he says.  Margaret

Papaya enzymes! Why schucks, ya learn something new everyday! LOL I had no idea! Thanks! I do like the idea of that much better than powdered meat tenderizer.  Guess I'll be going to mother earth or GNC here really soon. I think the carbonation is okay because it's a one time deal. It does dissolve food particles caked inside of feeding tubes, so I guess it could work on food clumped together in a pouch. I don't see that working on meats real well though. Maybe pastas , breads, or rice that got clumped or wadded up.

Do NOT use any type of meat tenderizer of any sort!  I am a paralegal during the day and I do insurance defense and I work on some bariatric cases (I am having a revision of my lap band next month).  Meat tenderizers are VERY dangerous and should not be used under any cir****tances to break up stuck meat.  I am working on a case right now where a meat tenderizer was used and eroded the person's esophagus.  You esophagus is a "meaty" structure as well. Folks, don't use these!  You can get into VERY severe difficulty and could end up in surgery.  Please, please talk to your surgeons before you even consider such a remedy.  There have been very many medical journal articles regarding the dangers of doing this.  I am working on a deposition where a doctor was sued because he tried this not knowing the recent medical literature and his reputation and future are at stake, not to mention what happened to the patient. Please, please, don't try this!

This is a direct quote from a depo summary I am working on (from a plaintiff's expert): "I formed an opinion after reading an article from the esophageal surgery textbook re meat tenderizers.  An ingredient called Papain or some other enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme; can cause damage to underlying esophagus or pathology that could lead to a perforation." It's so weird that I saw this post right while I'm working on this case, but perhaps it's fate and I can help someone.  I believe the textbook the expert consulted was Esophageal Surgery, by Phillips. I can't stress enough that this can be dangerous.  Please be careful.  We go through so much to get insurance approval, have our surgery and try to be healthy, losing weight so we will be there for our families and loved ones.  Please don't do anything that might injure you or harm your esophagus. Pray for me too - revision surgery is frightening and I'm scared!  I'm so glad we all have each other.

I hate to post again - but this is so important and I was so concerned (my dad was a general surgeon before he died as well).   Here are some medical journal articles.  Please please don't try meat tenderizer or any type of enzymes (natural or otherwise) to try to break up meat - call your doctor if you have something stuck.  Don't try home remedies.  It's just too dangerous. Here goes: - These are all separate articles - If you want to see lots of research, do a google search on meat tenderizer esophagus - and you'll find a tremendous amount of literature with regard to the danger. BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

 

 

Foreign Bodies of The Airway And Esophagus Matthew T. Kirby, M.D. September 19, 2002

Use of papain, such as Adolph’s meat tenderizer to dissolve meat lodged in the esophagus is not recommended as deaths have been reported from necrosis of the esophagus with major blood vessel rupture. All of these techniques however, are inferior to the classic rigid esophagoscopy.

 

 

This article can be found at:  http://www.bcm.edu/oto/grand/09_19_02.htm

 

MORE:

ARTICLES

Hemorrhagic pulmonary edema associated with meat tenderizer treatment for esophageal meat impaction

 ML Hall and JS Huseby Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.

 We describe a case of acute hemorrhagic pulmonary edema caused by aspiration of Adolph's meat tenderizer, used in an attempt to relieve an esophageal meat impaction. We performed an animal experiment in which bronchial instillation of a similar solution reproduced the clinical findings in our patient. This is a previously unreported and potentially lethal complication of a therapy that has never been submitted to clinical trials. We recommend against the use of this therapy for patients with complete esophageal obstruction or in those otherwise at risk for aspiration.
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 How should food bolus impactions be managed?

 Food bolus impactions almost always occur as a result of esophageal narrowing, such as a reflux stricture. If a patient is very uncomfortable or drooling, urgent endoscopy should be performed; if the patient is not uncomfortable, it is advisable to wait a while because many boluses will pass spontaneously into the stomach. Again, with endoscopic removal, use of an overtube should be considered. A food bolus can be removed using a snare, basket, or grasper. Some clinicians prefer to apply strong suction to the end of an overtube or to use a banding device on the end of the endoscope.

 The practice of blindly pushing a food bolus into the stomach is not recommended because of the risk of perforation. Gentle pressure can be applied with the tip of the scope to advance a food bolus into the stomach, but only after the scope has been passed beyond the bolus to determine the anatomy on the other side. Intravenous glucagon (1 mg, followed by 2 mg 20 minutes later if there is no response), IV metoclopramide (10 mg), or sublingual nifedipine (10 mg) may help by relaxing the esophagus. Proteolytic enzyme preparations, such as papain, should never be used as meat tenderizers because of the risk of hypernatremia, severe pulmonary complications, and esophageal perforation.  _________________________________________________________________ ANOTHER:

 Aspiration pneumonitis following papain enzyme treatment for oesophageal meat impaction

 Abstract

 We report a case of aspiration pneumonitis following the use of papain enzyme (Meat Tenderizer) in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with meat impacted in his oesophagus.

 ____________________________________________________________________________ ANOTHER ARTICLE:

 Management Esophageal foreign bodies Initial evaluation should include a radiograph. On an AP film, esophageal coins are enface. A tracheal coin is seen on its edge on an AP film. Indications for urgent removal are batteries and sharp objects. If the object causes drooling or acute respiratory symptoms or is a high aspiration risk (above the mid esophagus), the object also merits urgent removal. If a patient has an esophageal coin, but can swallow, endoscopy is indicated in 12-24 hours. Risks of waiting include strictures, tracheal compression, diverticula, mediastinitis, and fistula. In an esophageal battery, sodium or potassium hydroxide can cause mucosal burns and possibly perforation. Later complications can include strictures, stenosis, fistulas or death. Food impactions, especially meat, usually occur in the setting of a structurally or functionally abnormal esophagus. Inability to swallow secretions merits immediate removal, due to aspiration risk. Otherwise, food can be removed within 12-24 hours. Do not use meat tenderizers, as they can also tenderize the esophagus.

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