Pediatric surgeons at AIIMS recently managed a challenging foreign-body case involving a 14-month-old girl who had ingested a large metal spring measuring nearly two inches in length. The child presented with persistent vomiting for a week and refusal of feeds for two days. Imaging revealed a thick metallic spring lodged in the upper esophagus, with associated mucosal ulceration. An initial endoscopic removal attempt at an outside facility was deferred due to significant edema and mucosal injury, prompting referral to AIIMS.
In the operating room, the pediatric surgery team employed advanced endoscopic techniques to carefully rotate and extract the spring, which was notably wider and longer than typical household springs. The procedure was completed without esophageal perforation. Postoperatively, the child recovered quickly and resumed oral feeding the following day. The case…
