Teen's Life Hangs in Balance: Coin Stuck in Throat Like Slot Machine

A 14-year-old boy accidentally swallowed a quarter, which became vertically lodged between his vocal cords. Doctors discovered the coin during an X-ray and performed an emergency bronchoscopy to remove it, preventing damage to his vocal cords. Coins are the most commonly swallowed objects by children, but this case was unusual due to the coin's vertical position and location in the subglottis.

Teenager Escapes Death's Grip: Coin Lodged in Throat Like a Slot Machine

[City, State] – April 5, 2024 – In a harrowing medical tale that could have ended tragically, a 14-year-old California boy became the subject of a recent medical paper after a metal coin became vertically stuck between his vocal cords, resembling a coin trapped in a slot machine.

The boy, who accidentally swallowed a quarter, arrived at the hospital emergency room complaining of a hoarse throat and difficulty swallowing. Little did he know that a life-threatening situation was unfolding within his delicate vocal apparatus.

X-ray scans revealed the severity of the boy's condition. The metal coin had become wedged in a vertical position between his vocal cords, a small space known as the subglottis. If left unattended, the coin could have caused irreversible damage to the cords.

"Airway foreign bodies, especially those in the trachea and larynx, necessitate immediate removal to reduce the risk of respiratory compromise," doctors wrote in a medical report published in this month's New England Journal of Medicine.

Acting swiftly, doctors sedated the boy and performed an emergency bronchoscopy using a specialized grabbing tool. Endoscopically-taken photos captured the eerie image of the metal object lodged in the subglottis like a coin stuck in a slot machine.

Despite the harrowing ordeal, the boy was fortunate to escape without major injuries. Aside from minor ulcerations where the coin's rim made contact with his vocal cords, his condition improved immediately after the coin's removal.

Remarkably, the boy was discharged from the hospital soon after the procedure, leaving behind a story that highlights the potential dangers of accidental ingestion.

Coins, the most common object swallowed by children, account for around 60% of all reported swallowed objects. However, accidental ingestion typically occurs in children under the age of six.

This case serves as a cautionary tale for parents and caregivers to remain vigilant in preventing accidental swallowing, especially in young children. It also underscores the importance of seeking immediate medical attention in such cases, as prompt removal of foreign objects can prevent severe complications and even death.

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