Pune Hospital Removes Seven Metal Screws from Lungs and Abdomen of 19-Year-Old Electrician
Pune: A 19-year-old electrician was admitted to the Emergency Department of DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, with persistent coughing, chest pain, and breathing difficulties.
The symptoms developed after he received an electric shock while working barefoot on an aluminium sheet during a ceiling installation. The shock caused a fall and a brief loss of consciousness.
During that time, he accidentally aspirated five screws and swallowed two others, which he had been holding in his mouth while working.
Upon regaining consciousness, the patient experienced severe coughing for 2–3 minutes, followed by continued chest pain and difficulty breathing.
Diagnostic imaging, including a chest X-ray and an abdominal X-ray, revealed five screws in the lungs and two in the abdomen. No major tears in the airway were found.
Under the supervision of Dr M S Barthwal, Professor and Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, the team planned to remove the screws using a flexible bronchoscope, avoiding the more invasive rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia that is typically used for large foreign bodies.
The procedure lasted three hours. All five screws were located in the left upper lobe airway, and their positions kept shifting due to the patient’s coughing, despite local anaesthesia.
Using tools such as rat-tooth forceps and a Dormia basket, the team extracted all five screws. One screw slipped into the oropharynx during the procedure and was swallowed. Within 48 hours, both screws present in the abdomen were expelled naturally through the faeces.
Dr (Mrs) Bhagyashree Patil, Pro-Chancellor, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune (Deemed to be University), said: “We are proud to have successfully managed such a challenging case, saving the patient’s life while setting a new standard in pulmonary interventions. This case is a testament to the skill, dedication and innovative spirit of our medical team. Our hospital remains committed to delivering world-class healthcare through cutting-edge technology and compassionate care. We extend our heartfelt wishes for the patient’s swift and complete recovery.”
Dr M S Barthwal said: “We take pride in our medical team’s ability to expertly manage this extraordinary situation and save the patient’s life. Foreign body aspiration into lungs is more common in children. Common foreign bodies are nuts, grapes, coins, pins and beads. In adults, common foreign bodies are bone fragments, beetle nuts, peas, etc. Aspiration of screws and that also five in number has not yet been reported from India. These kinds of metallic foreign bodies, if not removed promptly, can cause significant damage in lungs requiring major surgery.”
The case involved coordination across specialties and use of minimally invasive techniques to manage the situation while reducing risk, recovery time, and treatment cost.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.