 |
|
Characteristics of Objects That Cause Choking in Children
Frank L. Rimell, MD;
Antonio Thome, Jr, MD;
Sylvan Stool, MD;
James S. Reilly, MD;
Gene Rider;
Daniel Stool;
Cheryl L. Wilson
JAMA. 1995;274(22):1763-1766.
Abstract
| |
Objective.
—To characterize the types, shapes, and sizes of objects causing choking or asphyxiation in children and to compare these characteristics to current standards.
Design.
—To evaluate morbidity, retrospective 5-year medical record survey; to evaluate mortality, data reanalysis.
Settings.
—Pediatric hospital and consumer product testing laboratory.
Patients.
—All children (n=165) who underwent endoscopy for foreign body aspiration or ingestion at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (Pa) between 1989 and 1993 and children (n=449) whose deaths due to choking on man-made objects were recorded by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) between 1972 and 1992.
Main Outcome Measures.
—Objects removed from children's aerodigestive tracts were characterized by location, procedure for removal, and type. Objects causing death were characterized by type, shape, and consistency. Three-dimensional objects that had caused asphyxiation were analyzed by computer-simulated models.
Results.
—Of the 165 children treated by endoscopy, 69% were 3 years of age or younger. Foreign bodies most often ingested or aspirated were food (in 36 children) and coins (in 60 children). Of 449 children whose deaths after aspirating foreign bodies were reported to the CPSC, 65% were younger than 3 years. Balloons caused 29% of deaths overall. Conforming objects such as balloons caused a significantly (P<.01) higher proportion of deaths in those aged 3 years or older (60%) vs those younger than 3 years (33%). Of the 101 objects causing deaths that we could analyze, 14 met current standards for use by children younger than 3 years.
Conclusions.
—Balloons pose a high risk of asphyxiation to children of any age. Changes in regulations regarding products intended for children's use might have prevented up to 14 (14%) of 101 deaths in this study.
(JAMA. 1995;274:1763-1766)
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (Pa) (Drs Rimell, Thome, and Stool); Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Alfred I. DuPont Institute, Wilmington, Del (Dr Reilly); and Inchcape Testing Services Risk Analysis and Management, Moonachie, NJ (Messrs Rider and Stool and Ms Wilson). Dr Rimell is now with the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Footnotes
Reprint requests to Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Box 396, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0392 (Dr Rimell).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
2005 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) of Pediatric and Neonatal Patients: Pediatric Basic Life Support
American Heart Association
Pediatrics 2006;117:e989-e1004.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Part 11: Pediatric Basic Life Support
Circulation 2005;112:IV-156-IV-166.
FULL TEXT
Switching to the Euro: still hard to swallow
Papadopoulos et al.
Arch. Dis. Child. 2004;89:382-383.
FULL TEXT
Cocoa Powder Aspiration
Lopatka et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 2004;43:111-114.
Aspiration of Fruit Gel Snacks
Qureshi and Mink
Pediatrics 2003;111:687-689.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Imaging Quiz Case 2
Hutcheson and Bower
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;127:454-457.
FULL TEXT
Validating the Concept of Abuse: Women's Perceptions of Defining Behaviors and the Effects of Emotional Abuse on Health Indicators
Wagner and Mongan
Arch Fam Med 1998;7:25-29.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Reducing Choking Deaths in Children
Flynn
JAMA 1996;275:1313-1313.
ABSTRACT
Reducing Choking Deaths in Children
Kerr
JAMA 1996;275:1313-1314.
ABSTRACT
CAUSES OF CHOKING IN CHILDREN
JWatch General 1996;1996:1-1.
FULL TEXT
Designing the Death Out of Balloons
Baker and Halperin
JAMA 1995;274:1805-1805.
ABSTRACT
|
