The case presented is one in which a coin in the esophagus resulted in a tracheoesophageal fistula. It is of interest not only because the occurrence is unusual, but also because the coin remained in the esophagus for an extraordinarily long period before the condition became symptomatic. The various factors responsible for the delay in getting medical help, including the nonavailability of medical services in many parts of Nigeria, are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Miles-FoxenEHGrovesJ. Foreign bodies in Oesophagus. In: BallantineJGroveJ, eds. Scott-Brown's textbook of diseases of ear-nose-throat. 3rd ed.London: Butterworths, 1971: 223–8.
2.
BarakaABikhaziG. Oesophageal foreign bodies. Br Med J1975; 1: 561–3.
3.
SawneyKLRoaPBAyyaswamyR. Foreign bodies in pharynx and oesophagus. Indian J Otolaryngol1973; 25: 47–50.
4.
RickhamPP. Ingested foreign bodies in childhood. Ann R Coll Surg Engl1971; 48: 25.
5.
DavidoffETowneJB. Ingested foreign bodies. NY State J Med1975; 75: 1003–7.
6.
BrooksJW. Foreign bodies in the air and food passages. Ann Surg1972; 175: 720–32.
7.
OkaforBC. Foreign body in the larynx — Clinical features and a plea for early referral. Niger Med J1976; 6: 470–2.
8.
JacksonCJacksonGL. Diseases of the air and food passages of foreign body origin. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1936.
9.
OkaforBC. Lung abscess secondary to esophageal foreign body. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1978; 87: 568–70.
10.
WrightFWRamsdenPD. Chronic foreign body in the oesophagus. Br J Clin Pract1974; 28: 413–7.
11.
FunnelGD'arcyF. Failure to thrive. J Laryngol Otol1976; 90: 883–6.
12.
MoriokaWTMaiselRHSmithTWCantrellRW. Unexpected radiographic findings related to foreign bodies. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1975; 84: 627–30.
13.
HallerJAJr. Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia. In: SchwartzSELilleheiRCSpencerFCStorerEHShiresGT. Textbook of principles of surgery. 2nd ed.New York: McGraw-Hill, 1974: 1516–21.
