Safety and efficacy of a protocol using bougienage or endoscopy for the management of coins acutely lodged in the esophagus: a large case series.

Study Objective: We report our experience using the bougienage procedure in the management of esophageal coins.

Methods: Observational case series of all patients presenting to our emergency departments with coins acutely lodged in the esophagus between 1994 and 2006. All patients were treated according to our protocol with either endoscopy or bougienage.