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Published on: January 17, 2011
Inhaled open safety pin: a challenging case
Milan Sedhai1, Prashant Tripathi1
1Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Insights
Sharp metallic foreign body aspiration in children poses risks. Emergency bronchoscopic removal of an open safety pin in an 8-year-old girl was successful, preventing complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Emergency Medicine
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Foreign body aspiration in children, particularly sharp metallic objects, presents significant risks of morbidity and mortality.
- Timely intervention is crucial, but bronchoscopic removal of such objects can be technically demanding for surgeons.
Observation:
- An 8-year-old girl presented with throat pain and dysphagia after aspirating an open safety pin.
- Radiographic imaging revealed a radio-opaque foreign body in the supraglottic region.
- The foreign body was an open, sharp, metallic safety pin lodged between the arytenoids, extending into the subglottis and hypopharynx.
Findings:
- Emergency direct laryngoscopy successfully removed the sharp metallic foreign body under general anesthesia.
- The surgical procedure was technically challenging due to the object's position and sharp nature.
- The patient experienced no post-operative complications.
Implications:
- This case highlights the successful emergency management of a life-threatening sharp metallic foreign body in a child.
- Prompt diagnosis and intervention are critical for favorable outcomes in pediatric foreign body aspiration.
- The case underscores the importance of specialized skills in bronchoscopic removal of challenging foreign bodies.
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.
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