Foley catheter technique for the extraction of coins lodged in the upper esophagus of children

INTRODUCTION: Coins are the most commonly ingested foreign bodies in children. They usually become lodged in the upper oesophagus and should be managed immediately. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with coins lodged in the upper oesophagus, who underwent coin removal using a silicone Foley balloon catheter without fluoroscopy or anaesthesia and evaluate the safety of the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who were admitted from January 2007 to December 2022 for coins lodged in the oesophagus and extracted with silicone Foley balloon catheter without anestehesia were evaluated retrospectively. We focused on the patient characteristics and clinical presentations, and the treatment safety, efficacy, and outcomes. RESULTS: 773 patients (416 male, 357 female), with a mean age of 3.5 years (range 6 months to 16 years), who ingested coin and extracted with Foley catether is included. The majority of patients (n = 728, 94.17%) were successfully managed by silicone Foley balloon catheter extraction. Our overall success was 94.17%, with 88.30% of coins retrieved and 5.9% pushed into the stomach. Patients who were successfully treated with Foley catheter were discharged on the same day except for 7 (0.90%) who had minimal bleeding. Only 45 (5.82%) patients required oesophagoscopy in the operating room and these patients were kept overnight for clinical follow-up, without any further interventions. CONCLUSION: A Foley balloon catheter can be used to safely and effectively remove coins that are lodged in the upper oesophagus avoiding the risk of general anesthesia.