Investigation and inquest
On 12 May 2023, one of my assistant coroners, Richard Brittain, commenced an investigation into the death of Kazarie Dwaah-Lyder, aged 2½ years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest earlier today. I made a determination of accidental death.
The medical cause of death was:
1a upper gastrointestinal bleed and haemorrhagic shock
1b oesophageal tear extending to the aorta
1c foreign body in oesophagus.
Circumstances of the death
Kazarie died as a result of swallowing a foreign body (a googly eye) in February 2022. This was investigated by x-ray and fluoroscopy at the time, but the object was not detected and he was then without symptoms for the next 14 months until his emergency admission to hospital on 26 April 2023.
Coroner’s concerns
In February 2022, Kazarie was taken to hospital suspected of having swallowed a plastic foreign object. He then underwent an x-ray and a fluoroscopy, each with a negative result.
It was suggested to me in evidence that children suspected of having swallowed a non radio opaque object such as a googly eye, whose symptoms (unlike Kazarie’s) persist, should undergo an endoscopy even if they have had a negative x-ray and fluoroscopy.
I was told that there is a lack of national guidance for such a situation. I appreciate that there are multiple considerations in planning investigations, such as the risks associated with CT scanning and the risks associated with the administration of a general anaesthetic. It seems that the matter would benefit from consideration at a national level.