Pune Doctors at Manipal Hospital Saves 18-Year-Old Life by Removing Swallowed Nail Without Surgery

Pune Doctors at Manipal Hospital Saves 18-Year-Old Life by Removing Swallowed Nail Without Surgery
Pune: In a recent event, an 18-year-old carpenter from Pune accidentally swallowed a sharp nail while on the job. He was taken to a private hospital in Baner, complaining of pain, and was advised to undergo an immediate X-ray. The X-ray showed that the nail was lodged in the upper part of his intestine, posing a significant risk of internal injury. Given the seriousness of the situation, Dr. Prasad Bhate, the Head of Gastroenterology at Manipal Hospital, and his team quickly decided to perform an emergency endoscopy to remove the nail.
The patient arrived at the hospital just two hours after swallowing the nail. Since he had not eaten anything, locating the foreign object through endoscopy was straightforward. The nail was situated at the junction of the small intestine, making its removal essential to avoid damage to the internal organs. Remarkably, the nail was extracted without the need for any surgical intervention.
Dr. Bhate discussed the case, stating, “Swallowing foreign objects, particularly sharp ones, poses significant dangers, including internal bleeding, perforation, and severe infections. In this instance, the patient swallowed a sharp nail that could have led to fatal outcomes if not removed promptly. Fortunately, we were able to extract the nail safely using advanced endoscopic techniques, which minimized recovery time and avoided serious complications.”
After the nail was removed, the patient was monitored and discharged the same day without any issues. A follow-up X-ray was performed to ensure there was no internal damage, confirming that the patient was in good health with no complications.