In a rare and challenging medical emergency, doctors at Manipal Hospital Kharadi successfully removed an open hairpin swallowed by a 45-day-old infant, preventing a potentially dangerous intestinal injury.

A tiny baby boy’s accidental ingestion of an open hairpin could have turned into a life-threatening situation, but timely medical intervention and advanced endoscopic expertise helped avoid a serious complication.

The 1.5-month-old infant was brought to Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune, nearly two hours after he accidentally swallowed a hairpin at home. An immediate abdominal X-ray revealed that the sharp object had moved into the distal stomach or the beginning of the small intestine.

Doctors immediately recognised the urgency of the situation. Since the hairpin was open, its sharp edges posed a significant risk of puncturing the stomach or intestinal wall, potentially leading to perforation and severe complications.

The medical team decided to perform an emergency endoscopic procedure to locate and remove the foreign object. However, the case presented a unique challenge as the hairpin had travelled beyond the normal range of a routine gastroscopy.

Dr Aditya Borawake, Consultant – Gastroenterologist, Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune, explained that the foreign object could not be located up to the second part of the duodenum (D2), which is usually examined during a standard endoscopy. The team carefully advanced further into the small intestine and eventually located the open hairpin deep inside the fourth part of the duodenum (D4).

Using specialised tooth forceps, doctors successfully retrieved the hairpin without causing any injury to the baby’s digestive tract.

Dr Borawake highlighted that foreign body ingestion in infants can quickly become a medical emergency, particularly when sharp or pointed objects are involved. He added that the open position of the hairpin and its deep migration into the duodenum made the procedure highly challenging, but early intervention helped prevent possible intestinal perforation.

Following the successful procedure, the infant remained stable and was started on oral feeds after four hours. The baby tolerated the feeds well and was discharged the next day in healthy condition.

Dr Amit Mane, Director, Manipal Hospitals, Pune, said the case underlines the importance of seeking immediate medical care whenever children accidentally swallow foreign objects. He added that the successful removal of a sharp object from such a young infant reflects the hospital team’s preparedness to manage complex emergencies using minimally invasive techniques.

The baby continues to recover well and remains healthy during follow-up visits, marking a successful outcome in a potentially dangerous paediatric emergency.