Tracheal compression caused by a foreign body in the esophagus

A two-year-old girl presented with a four month history of chronic cough and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections. Reduction of appetite and especially refuse of solid food was accompanied with weight loss of 3 kg over a period of four months. Therapy with beta 2 adrenergic drugs, theophyllines and antibiotics proved ineffective. Both inspiratory and expiratory stridor were noted, prominently during eating. On the chest radiograph a coin shaped foreign body in the upper part of the esophagus was found, leading to a compression of the trachea.