Management of accidental foreign body (headscarf pin) aspiration at the bronchial segment

Foreign body aspiration in pediatric patients is common, accidental, and life-threatening. It can range from mild, unnoticed symptoms to severe respiratory compromise or death, necessitating urgent intervention. An 11-year-old girl accidentally swallowed a headscarf pin and went to Dr. Soetomo Hospital’s Emergency Department (Surabaya, Indonesia). She had a brief choking episode but seemed okay afterward. Vital signs were normal with no breathing problems. Doctors tried to remove the pin through bronchoscopy, but it did not work. A chest X-ray showed the pin near her heart, but her lungs and heart were fine. A chest CT scan revealed a 3.73 cm pin in the left bronchus. They performed a thoracotomy posterolateral procedure and found adhesions in her left lung. The pin was successfully removed from the upper lobe of the left lung. Foreign body aspiration is challenging to diagnose, especially in children and the elderly. An 11-year-old girl accidentally swallowing a headscarf pin experienced difficulty in diagnosis as she appeared fine after the initial choking episode. Imaging methods helped locate the pin, and a thoracotomy posterolateral procedure successfully removed it from her left lung. In Türkiye such cases are more frequent due to increased headscarf wearing. Prompt diagnosis is vital to prevent treatment delays and potential complications. Headscarf pin aspiration is a life-threatening condition. Prompt extraction through bronchoscopy or thoracotomy, if necessary, is crucial. Early diagnosis based on patient history is vital to avoid complications.