In Izhevsk, medical teams responded to a serious incident involving a two-year-old boy who accidentally swallowed a commemorative coin about two centimeters in diameter. The report, shared through a Telegram channel, detailed the events as they unfolded and highlighted the quick collaboration among specialists to ensure the child’s safety. The information comes from official channels within the regional health administration, and it underscores how even seemingly harmless items can create urgent medical needs when they lodge in a child’s throat or esophagus.
The young patient was brought to the Izhevsk Children’s Clinic Hospital after experiencing sharp pain when swallowing. Upon arrival, the medical staff conducted a thorough examination and confirmed the presence of a foreign object in the esophagus. The coin, a small but dense item, had migrated from the child’s home environment into his body, prompting immediate concern for potential complications such as airway obstruction or mucosal injury. The clinical team, recognizing the risks, proceeded with careful monitoring and imaging to determine the exact location and orientation of the object, as well as the surrounding tissue condition.
Swallowing a small metal coin can trigger significant swelling and irritation of the esophageal lining, which can complicate removal. In this case, the doctors noted notable edema that made the procedure more challenging than typical foreign-body extractions. The medical team’s decision to act quickly was guided by the child’s age and the potential for rapid deterioration, including the risk of perforation or infection if the object remained lodged. The swelling prompted careful planning and coordination among the specialists who would perform the extraction, ensuring that the approach would minimize trauma to the delicate esophageal tissue.
According to the hospital’s chief physician, Pavel Pupkov, a multidisciplinary team assembled for the jewelry removal. The team included an anesthesiologist-resuscitator, a surgeon, and an endoscopist, who worked in concert to navigate the swollen esophagus and retrieve the coin with precision. The procedure, described by hospital authorities as technically demanding given the swelling, was completed without harming the surrounding tissue. The successful removal required meticulous technique, real-time assessment, and the ability to adapt to evolving conditions inside the esophagus. The physicians emphasized that the safety margin was maintained throughout, and that the patient’s airway and breathing were continuously protected during the intervention.
Post-procedure updates indicate that the child is in stable condition and responding well to the intervention. Medical staff plan to monitor recovery closely, with the aim of discharging the child for outpatient follow-up once symptoms subside and the esophageal healing progresses. The attending physicians stressed the importance of ongoing observation for signs of lingering irritation or difficulty in swallowing, which would necessitate further evaluation. Family education was provided to reinforce safe practices around small objects and to prevent future incidents, especially in households with toddlers who explore their environment by putting items in their mouths. The hospital reiterated its commitment to patient safety and to timely, high-quality care for pediatric emergencies, noting that swift, coordinated action can prevent complications and shorten hospital stays when foreign objects are involved.
Incidents involving children and swallowed items are a reminder of the hazards that everyday objects can pose. In this case, a coin intended for collection and display became a medical event requiring urgent intervention. While the coins themselves are harmless in their intended context, their small size, metallic composition, and shape can make them dangerous if inadvertently swallowed. Health professionals advise caregivers to keep small objects out of reach and to seek immediate medical attention if a child shows persistent pain, difficulty swallowing, drooling, coughing, or any signs of distress after such incidents. This incident, handled successfully at the Izhevsk Children’s Clinic Hospital, demonstrates how prompt assessment, skilled endoscopic technique, and careful postoperative care can lead to a positive outcome for young patients in urgent situations and without long-term complications.