Mumbai: A 10-month-old boy was successfully treated after he swallowed a sharp metallic handbag zipper stopper. The object was lodged in his food pipe for two weeks before an X-Ray report revealed it.
A resident of Mumbai found that his infant son was having a cough and irritability for which he was taken to a pediatrician. Even after treating for two weeks his symptoms of coughing and crying during feeding only increased.
However, when an X-Ray was carried out, it was that the child had a metallic object stuck in the food pipe, while the parents were unaware about how the child ingested it.
According to the doctors, the metallic foreign body was a handbag zipper stopper that was lodged in the mid esophagus at the level of T2-T4 vertebrae close to blood vessels of the heart. It was also causing noticeable compression on the windpipe.
The child underwent an esophagoscopy, endoscopy of the esophagus, which revealed ulceration and swelling around the impacted sharp-edged foreign body at the mid-esophageal level. An additional bronchoscopy, endoscopy of windpipe, showed mid-tracheal compression but had not suffered any tear.
Dr Balagopal Kurup, ENT and pediatric otorhinolaryngologist at Wadia Hospital, said, “Our pediatric anaesthesia team secured the airway and the foreign body was carefully removed. The postoperative X-rays were normal and the child underwent an additional confirmatory dye study to rule out esophageal tear by our pediatric surgery team and was discharged in five days.”
Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, said, “The timely detection and successful removal of the object from the child’s esophagus reflects not only the clinical excellence of our surgical team but also the robust systems in place that prioritize safety and precision. Every day, we strive to give children a second chance at life through compassionate care and cutting-edge medical support. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that no child is denied the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive.”
