title: The financial impact of flipping the coin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal foreign body retrieval is typically performed by rigid or flexible esophagoscopy. Despite evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of balloon extraction, it is rarely performed. We sought to establish the financial benefits of this minimally invasive approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 241 children with esophageal coins between 2011 and 2013 was performed. Coins were removed via endoscopy or fluoroscopic-guided balloon retrieval. Timing, symptoms, facility cost, and patient charges were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred patients had attempted balloon retrieval with 80% success. Forty-one patients went directly for operative removal. Patients with respiratory difficulty (p=0.05), wheezing (p<0.01), or fever (p=0.03) were more often taken directly for endoscopic retrieval. The median cost and charges for attempted balloon extraction were $484 and $1647. The median cost and charges for primary endoscopy were $1834 and $6746. The median total cost and charges of attempted balloon extraction including ED, OR, transport, admission, and balloon retrieval were $1231 and $3539 versus $3615 and $12,204 in the primary endoscopy group (p<0.001, p<0.001). Seventeen percent of patients who underwent attempted balloon retrieval were admitted prior to removal compared to 76% who underwent primary endoscopy (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluoroscopic guided balloon extraction of esophageal coins is a financially prudent choice which shortens hospital stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  III.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective treatment and economic study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: Katherine W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: Shiva R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: Angela A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mundakkal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO. Electronic address: sspeter@cmh.edu.
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: St Peter
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000628:therapy*; D017722:Hospital Charges; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Coin; Esophageal foreign body; Extraction; Retrieval