Medical Emergencies · single question
A patient swallows a crown during a try-in appointment and has no respiratory symptoms. What is the appropriate immediate step?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Obtain a chest radiograph (and abdominal film) to locate the object
- A. Correct. Imaging must confirm whether the object was swallowed (gastrointestinal — usually passes uneventfully) or ASPIRATED (respiratory — a medical emergency requiring bronchoscopy). Absence of symptoms does not exclude aspiration.
- B. Incorrect. Failing to exclude aspiration risks a missed airway foreign body with subsequent pneumonia or abscess.
- C. Incorrect. Inducing vomiting risks aspirating the object into the airway.
- D. Incorrect. The Heimlich is for an actively choking patient with airway obstruction, not an asymptomatic patient.
Practice Medical Emergencies questions Medical Emergencies study notes