Inhaled open safety pin: a challenging case. Issue 5 (23rd May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sedhai, Milan; Tripathi, Prashant
• Is Part Of: Oxford medical case reports. Volume 2022:Issue 5(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05-23
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 616.09
• DOI: 10.1093/omcr/omac044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-8855

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Foreign body aspiration in children, specifically sharp and metallic type, imposes a serious morbidity and mortality risk if intervention is delayed. The bronchoscopic removal of sharp metallic foreign bodies is technically challenging for the operating surgeon. We present a case of an 8-year-old girl who presented with an alleged history of aspiration of metallic, sharp and open safety pin 8 hours prior to presentation following which she developed throat pain and painful swallowing. X-ray of soft tissue neck showed a radio-opaque foreign body being lodged in the supraglottic area. She underwent emergency direct laryngoscopy-guided foreign body removal under general anesthesia. There was an open metallic sharp safety pin hinged over the inter-arytenoid region with its one end reaching sub-glottis and other end toward the hypopharynx. No post-operative complications occurred and patient was discharged on the third post-operative day.