A Case Series of Ingested Open Safety Pin Removal Using a Proposed Endoscopic Removal Technique Algorithm

PURPOSE: Safety pin ingestion is common in some regions of the world and may lead to severe morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to present some practical suggestions for ingested safety pins using an accompanying algorithm, presented for the first time in the literature to the best of our knowledge. METHODS: Twenty children with ingested safety pins during a 4-year period were retrospectively included in the study. RESULTS: Median age of patients was 9.5 months (interquartile range, 6.3–14 months), and 70% were girls. On endoscopic examination, safety pins were observed in the stomach (25%), duodenal bulb (20%), upper esophagus (15%), middle esophagus (10%), and second part of the duodenum (10%) but were not observed in 20% of the cases. Safety pins were removed using endoscopy in 15 cases (75%). In four cases (20%), no safety pin was observed on endoscopic examination. In one case (5%) involving a 6-month-old infant, the safety pin could not be removed although it was observed using endoscopy. No surgical intervention was needed for any patient. No complications such as perforation or deaths developed, except for erosions, due to the foreign body removal procedure. CONCLUSION: Safety pins are easily removed endoscopically. The best option is to remove the safety pin using endoscopy while it is still in the esophagus and stomach. For this reason, endoscopic procedures should be performed as soon as possible in children who have ingested safety pins.