Doctors in Hyderabad Extract Pen Cap from Man's Lungs After 21 Years
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Synopsis
In a remarkable medical case, doctors in Hyderabad removed a pen cap lodged in a man's lungs for 21 years. The 26-year-old sought help due to persistent cough and weight loss, leading to the discovery of the long-forgotten foreign object. Timely intervention was crucial to avoid severe lung damage.
Key Takeaways
- The case involved a man who swallowed a pen cap at age five.
- Doctors performed a three-hour procedure using flexible bronchoscopy.
- The prolonged presence of the object caused significant lung damage.
- Timely medical intervention was essential to prevent further complications.
- Parents should monitor children closely to prevent ingestion of foreign objects.
Hyderabad, Feb 19 (NationPress) Medical professionals at a healthcare facility in Hyderabad successfully extracted a pen cap from the lungs of a man who had inadvertently swallowed it 21 years prior.
The 26-year-old resident of Karimnagar sought medical attention due to a chronic cough and unexplained weight loss.
As per Dr. Shubhakar Nadella, a Consultant Clinical and Interventional Pulmonologist at KIMS Hospital, the patient’s health had deteriorated alarmingly in the last ten days, severely affecting his ability to sleep.
“Upon the patient's admission, we performed a CT scan that revealed a mass-like formation in his lungs. Initially, we suspected it was a blockage causing his chronic cough. However, during the procedure, we found it was actually a pen cap lodged within,” he stated.
“While we were in the midst of the procedure, we consulted his elder brother to inquire if he had ever swallowed anything as a child. That’s when he remembered that, at five years old, he had accidentally ingested a pen cap. Back then, he was taken to a doctor, who examined him but found no abnormalities, assuming the foreign object had naturally exited his body,” the doctor explained.
The removal procedure lasted almost three hours.
Utilizing a flexible bronchoscopy, the medical team meticulously eliminated the tissue buildup, lymph nodes, and muscle formations surrounding the pen cap.
“Once we cleared the area around it, we successfully removed the pen cap. The extended presence of a foreign object had caused damage to the lung, yet we were able to heal the affected region with antibiotic treatment. The patient has now made a full recovery,” Dr. Nadella reported.
He stressed the necessity of prompt medical intervention in such situations.
“Retaining foreign items inside the body for a prolonged duration poses significant risks. Had the patient delayed treatment further, the lung tissue could have sustained irreversible damage, necessitating surgical removal of the affected portion.”
The doctor advised parents to be cautious while their children are playing and to monitor what objects they might put in their mouths.
If a child accidentally ingests any object, swift medical intervention is vital to avert serious complications, he cautioned.
