EMDaily Board Review Question 9 with Dr. Joseph Cesarine

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Question 1 of 1

A 3 year old male presents to your Emergency Department with hist concerned mother who believes her child swallowed a coin. The mother states she saw her child swallow a quarter over 1 day prior to presenting to your Emergency Department. The mom denies other symptoms or changes in the child's behavior including drooling, pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, or fever. In your ED the child is asymptomatic and in no apparent distress. You obtain an x-ray which shows a coin lodged in the esophagus. What pathology to the esophagus from this coin warrants urgent endoscopic removal instead of other maneuvers?

Systemic absorption of heavy metals through the esophagus

Swelling and edema of the esophageal mucosa making movement of the coin more difficult

Flow of electricity from the coin causing irreversible mucosal damage

Impending airway compromise

Penetrating mechanism to the esophagus causing esophageal rupture