New Delhi: What began as a week of unexplained vomiting in a 14-month-old girl from Yamunanagar turned into a life-threatening emergency after doctors at AIIMS found a large metal spring —measuring about 1.5–2 inches in length and nearly 0.5 inch in diameter — lodged deep in her food pipe.AIIMS doctors said the case was “exceptionally high risk” as the rigid object remained stuck for several days, causing severe swelling and ulceration of the oesophagus, with a real danger of perforation during removal.
The child was initially brought to the paediatric emergency of a private hospital after persistent vomiting and poor oral intake. With no history of foreign body ingestion—a frequent problem in infants who cannot communicate what they may have swallowed—doctors ordered an X-ray, which revealed the metal spring lodged in the upper oesophagus.Initial endoscopic attempts to remove the object at the hospital showed the object was tightly impacted, with marked ulceration and swelling of the oesophageal lining. Given the size, shape and deep impaction of the spring, and the high risk of tearing the food pipe, doctors aborted the procedure and referred the child urgently to AIIMS.At AIIMS, the paediatric gastroenterology team reassessed the child but deferred further attempts due to extensive mucosal injury and oedema, transferring the case to the paediatric surgery unit led by Dr Vishesh Jain.Despite extensive experience in managing foreign body ingestion, AIIMS doctors said the case was exceptionally high risk because of the size, shape and prolonged impaction of the spring, which raised the possibility of oesophageal perforation and the need for emergency open surgery.The parents were counselled in detail, and the surgical and anaesthesia teams prepared for all contingencies, with anaesthesia led by Dr Parin.In the operating theatre, endoscopy confirmed the spring partially embedded into the oesophageal wall. Using endoscopic techniques, the surgical team carefully disimpacted and removed it through gentle rotational movements. A check endoscopy confirmed there was no perforation.The child improved rapidly, started on oral feeds the next day and is now scheduled for discharge.The case underscores the dangers posed by small household objects. Doctors warned that items such as springs, coins, batteries and toy parts must be kept out of children’s reach. They added that in infants, foreign body ingestion often goes unnoticed, and symptoms such as persistent vomiting, refusal to feed or drooling should prompt immediate medical evaluation.
