Need for endoscopic removal of oesophageal coins in children was similar for strategies of immediate removal and watchful waiting
Q In children presenting to the emergency department with a coin lodged in the oesophagus, what are the effects of relatively immediate endoscopic removal of the coin and watchful waiting?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
{concealed}.*
Blinding:
blinded {data analysts}.*
Follow up period:
duration of hospital stay.
Setting:
an emergency department in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Patients:
60 children ⩽21 years of age (mean age 51 mo, 52% boys) who had ingested coins that were lodged in the oesophagus. Exclusion criteria were previous tracheal or oesophageal surgery, more than minimal symptoms (respiratory distress, drooling, or choking), or ingestion >24 hours earlier or inability to determine time since ingestion.
Intervention:
relatively immediate removal of coin under general anaesthesia by a surgeon using rigid endoscopy as soon …
