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Safety-pin Induced Hemopericardium and Cardiac Tamponade in an Infant
Sheeja Sugunan1, A S Ajith Krishnan2, V K Devakumar2
1Department of Pediatrics, SAT Hospital, Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, India. Correspondence to: Dr Sheeja Sugunan, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, SAT, Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, India. sheejavimalk@gmail.com.
Background:
Safety-pin ingestion causing cardiovascular complications are very rare with high risk for mortality.
Case Characteristics:
A 10-month-old child who presented with persistent irritability and intermittent fever of 1 month duration. The child had tachypnea and mild subcostal retractions.
Observation:
Investigations revealed open safety-pin in lower esophagus, and pericardial effusion that later progressed to cardiac tamponade during handling of the safety pin by endoscope.
Message:
It may be safer to drain pericardial collection before handling sharp foreign bodies in lower end of esophagus as it can worsen cardiac complications.
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