Clin Exp Emerg Med.  2018 Jun;5(2):135-137. 10.15441/ceem.17.236.

Pediatric food impaction detected through point-of-care ultrasonography

• Mori T
• Ihara T
• Hagiwara Y

• KMID: 2416927
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15441/ceem.17.236

Abstract

A previously healthy 1-year-old boy suddenly began coughing while eating a dried sweet potato. Because he continued gagging after vomiting a piece of the dried sweet potato, his mother brought him to our emergency room. Upon arrival, despite normal pulmonary findings, he was drooling and gagging. Ultrasonography was performed because food impaction at the upper esophagus was suspected based on his medical history and physical examination, and results showed that a linear hyperechoic lesion was obstructing the posterior esophageal wall. Computed tomography was also considered for a detailed examination of the foreign body. However, the patient vomited the dried sweet potato before the test was performed. After vomiting the foreign body, the patient stopped gagging, and his ultrasonographic findings were normal. Therefore, the patient was discharged without any complications.

Keyword

Ultrasonography; Foreign bodies; Child

MeSH Terms

Child
Cough
Eating
Emergency Service, Hospital
Esophagus
Foreign Bodies
Gagging
Humans
Ipomoea batatas
Male
Mothers
Physical Examination
Point-of-Care Systems*
Sialorrhea
Ultrasonography*
Vomiting