LAHORE: Doctors at the Lahore General Hospital saved the lives of three children by removing a metal coin, a safety/hair pin and a button battery stuck in their throats through paediatric endoscopy.

The team, led by assistant professor of paediatrics Dr Aftab Anwar, performed surgery on the children aged between two and six.

Dr. Aftab Anwar said paediatric endoscopy is a modern medical procedure which involves the use of a small, flexible tube with a camera to visualise and diagnoses problems in the digestive tract.

He said it is an essential tool during the treatment in the body ingestion which is a common occurrence in kids.

He said coins, safety pins, ring and button batteries are some of the common happenings which children often swallow accidentally.

These objects can get stuck in the esophagus, stomach or intestines, and cause serious health problems if not removed immediately.

Paediatric endoscopy allows doctors to safely and effectively remove from external bodies of a child’s digestive tract.

He said in the case of coins, safety pins and button batteries, paediatric endoscopy is particularly useful.

The coins and safety pins are commonly ingested by kids under the age of four, while button batteries are a risk for children up to the age of eight.

Dr. Aftab said these objects can cause a significant damage to the digestive tract if they remain in the body.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2023