Endoscopic removal of spiral nail in the intestine of a 2-year-old girl
(Baonghean.vn) - Endoscopy to remove foreign objects in the digestive tract of young children is very difficult, may fail, and surgery must be accepted. On June 25, Vinh International Hospital successfully performed an emergency endoscopy to remove a spiral nail for a 2-year-old girl from Nghi Loc, Nghe An.
2-year-old girl Nguyen.TU (Nghi Loc, Nghe An) was brought to Vinh International Hospital by her mother in a state of constant crying and nausea. The patient's family said that she was playing with a screw and accidentally swallowed the nail.
Through examination and X-ray, doctors discovered a radiopaque foreign object in the girl's stomach. The hospital held a consultation and decided to perform an endoscopy under anesthesia to remove the foreign object.
 |
| Image of foreign object observed through X-ray film. Photo: Kim Chung |
Doctor Phung Thi Hang - Head of Internal Medicine Department (who directly performed the procedure) said: "After placing the machine to determine the foreign object deeper in the D3 duodenum than the X-ray film. Because the foreign object has a spiral surface and is 3cm long compared to the size of the intussusception of a 2-year-old child, the procedure is very difficult."
However, with the experience of Dr. Hang and the coordination of the entire team of anesthesiologists, after 30 minutes the foreign object was successfully removed. The baby's health is completely stable; the results of re-examination of the duodenal mucosa - stomach wall - esophagus showed no damage, no bleeding.
 |
| Image of foreign object observed during endoscopy. Photo: Kim Chung |
Since its inception, Vinh International Hospital has received emergency treatment for many cases of foreign bodies in the digestive tract and respiratory tract; such as dentures, pills still in blister packs, small metal and plastic objects, etc. However, this is the first time the hospital has received a child patient who swallowed a large metal foreign body. The Internal Medicine and ENT departments have successfully treated all of the above cases.
According to doctors, swallowing metal foreign objects, especially large foreign objects, is very dangerous and can perforate the digestive tract, causing mediastinal abscess or peritonitis. Endoscopic removal of foreign objects is also very difficult and may fail, requiring surgery.
Therefore, to prevent children from swallowing foreign objects, parents should absolutely not let children play with small objects, especially sharp objects. If parents suspect that their child has swallowed a foreign object, they should quickly take the child to a medical facility for timely emergency treatment./.
