Sewing needle migrating from esophagus into prevertebral space: A challenging case

Abstract

Oesophageal foreign body presents as a medical emergency and requires immediate evaluation and treatment. We are reporting a rare case of sewing needle in esophagus migrating into the prevertebral space at thoracic inlet level. A 13-year-old mentally retarded female child was brought in emergency at midnight with complaint of accidental ingestion of sewing needle with the thread. Patient was posted for rigid esophagoscopy under general anaesthesia, no needle could be visualised and only thread of the sewing needle was removed. So patient was taken up for neck exploration along with gastroenterologists. Further careful dissection confirmed the needle in the pre vertebral space, which was removed successfully with artery forceps. Patient was given IV antibiotics for 10 days. Patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged after 10 days. Pointed metallic slender foreign bodies can perforate and migrate very fast in the neck or chest and can lead to morbidity and mortality. Multidisciplinary approach offers a great advantage in surgical planning and proper patient management.