INTRODUCTION OF A CANADIAN DOLLAR COIN HAS CREATED A NEW HEALTH-HAZARD FOR CHILDREN

Coins have remained at the top of the incidence list of published seri es of endoscopic removal of pediatric foreign bodies. The introduction of the Canadian dollar coin in 1987 has presented another hazard for children. A total of 228 consecutive pediatric patients that underwent esophagoscopy for removal of foreign body from 1979 to 1989 are revie wed. Esophagoscopy under general anesthesia is the safest technique fo r the removal of impacted foreign bodies in the esophagus.