Swallowed a Quarter

Abstract

Abstract This resource is a teaching case featuring a 14-month-old pediatric patient who presents to the emergency room after ingesting a coin. This case can be used with medical students, nurses, paramedics, or residents. The background of the case indicates that the child is a previously well child who is very active and has been walking for 2 months. She was at home with her father when she started to cry a very funny cry. He noted that she was drooling excessively. She knows about 50 words but was unable to verbalize what happened. This persisted for 45 minutes, and then her father drove her to the emergency room. Vital signs are initially stable. The initial physical examination shows a drooling child who is uncomfortable but not toxic appearing. If the case progresses without recognition of the esophageal obstruction, the child will continue to increase her drooling and may require airway protection to manage her secretions. This case is useful to assess and/or teach the management of pediatric coin ingestion.

Keywords

• Coin Ingestion
• Foreign Body
• Button Battery
• Eating
• Numismatics