Headscarf pin, a sharp foreign body aspiration with particular clinical characteristics

Abstract

The process of wearing head scarf is very complex; girls used to hold a number of pins in the mouth and utilize them one by one to fix the scarf. Loss of concentration results in pin aspiration. We presented our experience with scarf pin aspiration and discussed the unique clinical characteristics of this problem. We reviewed the records of 73 patients who underwent bronchoscopy for scarf pin inhalation during the period from January 1995 to May 2009. The following data were collected, history of aspiration, time lag before presentation, symptoms and signs, radiological findings, bronchoscopic findings, number of repeated bronchoscopy, complications, need for thoracotomy and time of discharge. All patients were female, mean age 13.4 years. The time lag before admission was <12 h for 59 (81%) patients. Positive history was present in all cases. Chest radiography identified the pins in all cases. The foreign bodies were seen in the left bronchial system in 37 (50.7%) patients, in the right bronchial system in another 24 (32.9%), and in the trachea in 12 (16.4%) patients. In 66 (90.4%) patients, the foreign body was removed in the first bronchoscopic trial; a second trial was needed in 5 (6.8%) patients, and thoracotomy was performed in two patients. In conclusion, head scarf pin aspiration occurs in adolescent Islamic girls. The clinical presentation and radiological findings are diagnostic in all cases. Rigid bronchoscopy is the preferred treatment modality. Health education is the key issue in the prevention of this problem.

Foreign body inhalation in Tunisian children: Experience of a pediatric respiratory diseases department

“…Headscarf pins were the most common inorganic FBs found in our series; this is consistent with other studies from Arabic countries [19,21,22,23].…”

Pearl pin inhalation accidents: an emerging tracheobronchial challenge to surgeons

“…Hasdiraz et al, Ucan et al and Kaptanoglu et al noted an increased prevalence of pin in the right bronchial tree, but Sersar et al, Yuksel et al, M. Hamad et al have reported an increased prevalence in left bronchial tree explained on the basis of narrow lumen of left bronchial apparatus leading to more suction pressure explained by Bernoulli theorem. 8,15,5,6,12,18,19 Our study also supports right predominance over left with (41.66%) in right bronchial tree compared to the left bronchial side in (30.55%). Thirty one foreign bodies were removed utilizing a Karl Storz rigid bronchoscope.…”

Foreign Body Aspiration: Imaging Aspects

“…Airway obstruction has also been reported as a result of nonaccidental trauma, when forcible introduction of a foreign body caused tracheal obstruction, with a resultant death reported in one case (Barrett and Debelle 1995;Nolte 1993). Aspiration of headscarf needles (Turban pins) has been reported in young girls and adolescents in Islamic populations (Ucan et al 1996;Kaptanoglu et al 1999;Murthy et al 2001;Kaptanoglu et al 2007;Al-Sarraf et al 2009;Hamad et al 2010;Albirmawy and Elsheikh 2011;Ilan et al 2012). Aspiration of other sharp metallic objects occurs more commonly among adolescents (Ludemann and Riding 2007;Walz et al 2013).…”