title: Management of oesophageal coins in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is a watch and wait approach safe in asymptomatic patients presenting to the emergency department with a confirmed oesophageal coin on x-ray?
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case note review for children <16 years attending with a confirmed oesophageal coin on x-ray over a 7-year period (1 January 2004 to 31 December 2010).
  
  
  RESULTS
  89% (33/37) of coins in asymptomatic patients, who were conservatively managed, had passed spontaneously on repeat chest x-ray up to 18 h later. No patient who was discharged with a middle or lower oesophageal coin required a GA and no child who was treated conservatively developed any complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the UK asymptomatic children, with no history of tracheal or oesophageal disease and a confirmed oesophageal coin on x-ray should undergo a period of observation up to 18 h. This can be safely undertaken at home, followed by a repeat x-ray in the emergency department.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Emergency Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nafousi
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pertwee
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Acheson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom