Unpinned from Danger: Bengaluru Woman Saved from Rare Lung Obstruction

In a rare and delicate procedure, doctors at Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, successfully removed a sharp metallic cloth pin that had been accidentally inhaled and lodged deep in the lung of a 55-year-old woman for over a month. The foreign body was safely retrieved through a minimally invasive bronchoscopic technique using a Fogarty balloon catheter, demonstrating the hospital’s excellence in interventional pulmonology.

The patient had inadvertently aspirated to the sharp metal piece while shopping after briefly placing it in her mouth while inspecting clothes. A sudden sneeze caused the pin to slip into her airway, eventually embedding itself in the bronchus intermedius, a vital passage in the right lung. Despite consulting several healthcare facilities over weeks, the source of her persistent dry cough and wheezing remained undiagnosed.

Upon her visit to Aster CMI Hospital, detailed imaging through CT scan and chest X-ray revealed the presence of a foreign object firmly attached to the bronchial wall. The complexity of the case required a highly precise and cautious approach.

Dr. Sunil Kumar K, Lead Consultant – Interventional Pulmonology at Aster CMI Hospital: saidthe pin’s sharp end had punctured into the airway wall. Standard retrieval methods failed due to the risk of further injury. Using a Fogarty balloon, we were able to gently dislodge the object and subsequently retrieve it using rat tooth forceps during bronchoscopy under sedation.

The patient responded well to the intervention and was discharged in stable condition, with full respiratory recovery. This incident underscores the need for awareness regarding accidental aspiration and the importance of accurate diagnosis in respiratory cases.