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Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
Ingested Metallic Spool: A Rare Cause of Acquired Tracheoesophageal Fistula
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health, Lahore.
Insights
Foreign body ingestion in children can lead to serious complications like tracheoesophageal fistula. Early diagnosis and surgical removal of esophageal foreign bodies are crucial for successful outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a frequent pediatric concern.
- Esophageal FB impaction can cause severe complications, including tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF).
Observation:
- A 6-year-old girl presented with progressive dysphagia and recurrent chest infections.
- No parental history of foreign body ingestion was reported.
- Investigations identified a spool as the esophageal foreign body in the cervical region.
Findings:
- The patient underwent successful surgical management.
- The surgical approach utilized was trans-cervical.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering esophageal foreign bodies even without a clear ingestion history.
- Prompt surgical intervention is vital for managing complex esophageal FB cases in children.
- Trans-cervical surgery offers an effective approach for cervical esophageal foreign body removal.
Abstract:
Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common problem in children. Prolonged impaction of FB in esophagus may result in tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). A 6-year-old girl presented with progressive dysphagia and recurrent chest infections. No history of FB ingestion was given by parents. Further investigations revealed FB (spool) in cervical esophagus. Patient was successfully managed by surgery through trans-cervical approach.
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