Straight Pin Aspiration in Young Women

Abstract

Straight pins are used extensively for securing facial scarves in women and girls in the Middle East. Accidental aspiration often results in the pin lodging in the segmental bronchus with the sharp end pointing cephalad. Flexible bronchoscopy is superior to rigid bronchoscopy in retrieving these pins. We report on five cases successfully treated by fiberoptic bronchoscopy under general anesthesia.