An interesting journey of an ingested needle: a case report and review of the literature on extra-abdominal migration of ingested Foreign bodies

The foreign body ingestion occurs usually in children. Although it is detected rarely in adults, prisoners, mentally retarded people and young girls with turban in Islamic countries are commonly affected [1‐3]. Foreign bodies generally pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) and do not result in any complications, but very sharp or pointed objects may cause perforations along the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, retained foreign bodies may cause gastrointestinal erosions and abrasions, which result in bleeding. The rate of complication from foreign body ingestion is estimated less than 1%. Complications due to foreign bodies in the stomach and small intestine typically involve perforation associated with peritonitis. Foreign bodies account for 15% to 35% of all bowel perforations. These cases require surgical intervention. Although migration of foreign bodies from esophagus to mediastinum and thorax may lead to very serious complications including pneumomediastinum, mediastinitis, pneumothorax, pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, or even horrific lethal vascular injuries to the aorta or pulmonary vasculature, migration of foreign bodies from the colon to the lung is not reported before [4‐8].

In this report, we present an interesting journal of an ingested sewing machine needle which migrated from the transverse colon to the lung in a young woman. We also review the literature on interesting extra-abdominal migrations of swallowing foreign bodies.

The incidence of foreign body ingestions is unknown. The most common causes of foreign body ingestion are accidental swallowing of objects. Children usually put any object they find into their mouths and may accidentally swallow them. In healthy adults, accidental swallowing often involves toothpicks, dentures and turban pins. Psychiatric patients may swallow a wide variety of objects, including large and bizarre items. Although the majority of foreign bodies pass harmlessly through the GI tract and conservative management is generally recommended, 10% to 20% of them will require non-operative intervention such as endoscopy, and approximately 1% of them will require surgery [9‐11]. An estimated 1500 deaths occur annually from foreign body ingestion in USA [12].

A foreign body lodged in the gastrointestinal tract may cause local inflammation leading to pain, bleeding, scarring and obstruction, or it may erode through the GI tract. The site of perforation due to foreign bodies appears to be variable in the GI tract. Although McManus et al. identified ileocecal region as the most common site of perforation secondary to foreign body ingestion [13], duodenum has been reported as the most common site by Spitz et al. and Gracia et al. [14, 15]. Foreign body ingestions necessitate careful and continued observation due to the possibility of serious complications.

Children and the mentally impaired, or the psychiatric patients may present with refusal to eat, vomiting, choking, drooling, wheezing, blood-stained saliva, or respiratory distress. Erythema, tenderness, or crepitus in the neck may be present with oropharyngeal or esophageal perforation. The abdomen should be examined for clinical evidences of peritonitis. These conditions will require emergent surgical intervention. Ventilation, airway compromise and the risk of aspiration should also be assessed. If the swallowed object is radio-opaque, a single frontal radiograph that includes the neck, chest, and entire abdomen is usually sufficient to locate the object. The plain radiography is effective in localizing most of radio-opaque objects [16]. CT scan or MRI is rarely indicated but may enhance the detection of foreign bodies or complications (e.g., perforations, migrations) in special cases.

Migration of foreign bodies from the abdomen or pelvis to the lung is very rare but well-defined entity. Diagnostic catheters, venous shunts and bullets have been reported in this context, but differently from our case, most of them have migrated hematogenously [17‐19]. To our knowledge, our case is unique in that we have described a foreign body migration from the transverse colon to the lung parenchyma. Interestingly, that migration did not have lead peritonitis and the patient was able to manage without the need for a laparotomy. We think, the perforation in the transverse colon wall was too small to cause a significant bowel leakage. Also, the route of the journey after transverse colon is not certain. In our opinion, there are two possibilities for the needle to pass thorax: either, it penetrated the diaphragm or passed through esophageal hiatus.

In reviewing the literature on extra-abdominal migration of swallowing foreign bodies, Macchi at al. reported a case of a 48-year-old man with esophageal perforation, mediastinitis, and evidence of perforation of the ascending aorta during surgical drainage of the mediastinum. They reported finding a fish bone under the aortic arch at autopsy [5]. Kunishige et al. presented a 79-year-old woman who had referred to hospital with chest pain after swallowing a fish bone. The bone had been removed by esophagoscopy. Eleven days later she had presented because of hematemesis. Computed tomography and angiography had confirmed a diagnosis of esophageal perforation leading to mediastinitis and the presence of an infected pseudoaneurysm. The infected pseudoaneurysm had been completely resected [6]. Cekirdekci et al. and Vesna et al. reported two different cases with cardiac tamponade due to migration of sewing needle from the esophagus [7]. On the contrary, Graffstädt et al. presented a journey of a wandering needle from bronchus to intestine in a 14-year-old girl. The needle had been excreted naturally on the third day [20]. Ozsunar et al. presented an interesting unique case in which a needle had been accidentally swallowed and then migrated into the vertebral body [21]. Chen et al. reported a 50-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with thyroid abscess secondary to a swallowing fish bone [22].

As a conclusion, an ingested foreign body infrequently causes severe problems, however complications such as perforation and migration should be always keep in mind and close follow up should be done. In addition, we have to be certain to detect that foreign bodies have left the body.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.