Inadvertently Swallowed Needle Pierced the Pulmonary Artery in an Adult.

Abstract

Background: Esophageal foreign body (FB) is usually seen in children, prisoners, or patients with psychiatric disorders, most of which can be removed with endoscope.

Case presentation: We herein report a mentally normal adult inadvertently swallowing a needle, which pierced through the esophagus into the adventitia of pulmonary artery. Computed tomography angiography confirmed its specific location, and urgently, surgical removal was performed after the endoscopic attempt. The patient recovered well and was discharged without any complication of the esophageal perforation.

Conclusion: Surgical treatment should be carried out aggressively if the esophageal FB is out of reach for endoscopic removal or if complications cannot be resolved endoscopically.