Samarra General Hospital did not reveal how hundreds of sharp metal objects ended up inside a man’s stomach, but the medical team that took care of his case succeeded in extracting 214 needles and pins during an exceptional surgical operation.
The hospital, located in Salah al-Din Governorate in northern Iraq, explained that the patient is 38 years old, and that the operation was performed under the supervision of a general surgery specialist, and with the participation of a medical, nursing and technical team from the operations department.
The danger does not stop with the presence of metal objects
Sharp needles and pins inside the digestive tract may cause cuts, bleeding, or perforation of the stomach or intestinal wall, and the perforation may lead to inflammation within the abdomen. The level of danger depends on the location and size of the sharp object, and whether it has caused tissue damage.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy’s guidelines recommend evaluating swallowed sharp objects to determine their location and potential for causing complications. The method of removing them depends on these factors. Endoscopy may be sufficient in some cases, while others require surgical intervention.
How did the needles and pins get into his stomach?
The hospital statement did not explain how the needles and pins reached the patient’s abdomen, or how long they remained inside his body. It also did not include details about his condition after the operation or whether or not there were complications.
The hospital merely pointed out the success of the medical team in performing the surgical intervention, while its director, Omar Zahaham Khalil, stressed the importance of supporting medical and nursing staff and enhancing their professional capabilities to deal with complex surgical cases.