Table 1.
Data regarding the deceased.
| Cases | Age/Sex | Foreign Body | Location | Place of the Event | Caregivers | Mistakes in Resuscitation | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 y.o./F | Mozzarella cheese (5 × 2 cm) | Aditus ad laringem | Kindergarten; sitting at a table |
Teachers | The teachers did not supervise the child adequately during lunch and were not able to perform the Heimlich maneuver; they only performed several back blows with no success | The child died in the hospital emergency department |
| 2 | 2 y.o./M | Raw bean (3 × 1.5 cm) | Middle third of the trachea | Home; child was playing on the lap of his grandmother who was sitting at a table and cleaning some raw beans in the kitchen. |
Grandmother | In this case, it was necessary to perform the Heimlich maneuver and supervise mealtimes to stop the child from playing, walking, or running while eating | The child died at home; emergency services arrived on the scene in a short time, but they were unable to resuscitate |
| 3 | 18 months/M | Large pear fragment (2.5 × 1.5 cm) | Trachea at the bifurcation | Countryside; child was playing with his parents, ate a large piece of pear while the parents were away for a few seconds, and showed symptoms of airway obstruction |
Parents | Parents did not perform the Heimlich maneuver; father did not perform an accurate tracheotomy, which in this case was not recommended; high-risk foods, such as a large piece of pear, should not be offered | The child died at the investigation scene before emergency services arrived |
| 4 | 3 y.o./M | Pebble (diameter of 3 cm) | Aditus da laringem | Home; child was playing alone on the balcony when the father, who did not pay attention due to undisclosed other activities inside the house, heard a severe cough and went out onto the balcony to help the child |
Father | Avoid introducing the fingers into the child’s mouth; keep hazardous objects out of reach (common household items that might pose a choking hazard include coins, button batteries, dice, pen caps, vases with pebbles); take a class on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and choking first aid for children; perform the Heimlich maneuver | The child died in hospital after being in a coma for 6 days |