A complication during endoscopic removal of a long esophageal foreign body in an eight-month-old girl

Abstract

Introduction. Esophageal foreign bodies can cause a wide array of acute and delayed complications. The aim of this paper was to report a complication during endoscopic removal of a long esophageal foreign body. Case outline. An eight-month-old girl was admitted to our hospital due to an acute onset of dysphagia, drooling, and vomiting. From the result of a plain anteroposterior X-ray, the patient was found to have a long hairpin retained in her esophagus. During endoscopic removal using a polypectomy snare, the hairpin was found to be stuck in the hypopharynx. It could not be removed by moving the scope and placing the patient in different positions. Finally, the hairpin was pulled out using a pair of Magill forceps under the control of a laryngoscope. Conclusion. The Magill forceps can be a very useful tool if a foreign body is stuck in the hypopharynx during an endoscopic removal and should be readily available in any setting where this kind of endoscopic procedure is being performed.