Teen Girl's Hijab Pin Swallowed, Doctors Remove It Via Endoscopy
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
A 16-year-old girl in Israel swallowed a hijab pin, which became embedded in her stomach wall. Doctors successfully removed the pin using an endoscopic procedure without complications, and she was discharged the next day.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Teenager swallows hijab pin, which embeds in stomach wall.
- Doctors successfully remove pin via endoscopy at Poriya Medical Center.
- Girl experienced mild pain; no emergency signs initially.
- Medical team used specialized tools for safe extraction.
- Patient discharged next day after recovery and antibiotics.
A 16-year-old girl was admitted to the Poriya Medical Center after accidentally swallowing a hijab pin she had placed between her lips while adjusting her headscarf. Dr. Shadi Artool, director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, stated that the girl initially experienced only mild abdominal pain and showed no signs of an emergency. However, imaging revealed the pin in her upper abdomen, and subsequent tests confirmed it was lodged in her stomach.
Dr. Artool explained on radio that placing hijab pins between the teeth or lips poses a risk of accidental swallowing due to sudden actions like sneezing, coughing, or even deep breaths. He emphasized that the danger lies not only in ingestion but also in the pin's sharp end, which can perforate the stomach or intestinal wall, leading to potentially life-threatening digestive tract injuries.
Following the initial assessment and imaging, further scans several hours later showed the pin had not moved from its position in the stomach, prompting the medical team to consider it an urgent intervention. The girl underwent fasting before the endoscopic procedure to ensure her stomach was empty for clear visualization and safe removal.
During the gastroscopy, it was discovered that the pin had become embedded in the stomach wall. Using specialized instruments, the medical team successfully grasped the plastic part of the pin and extracted it, taking precautions to prevent its sharp end from causing further injury as it passed through the digestive tract. The pin was removed intact without complications.
The girl remained under observation and received antibiotics. She was discharged the following day after her condition stabilized and she resumed normal eating and drinking. Dr. Artool stressed the importance of prevention, urging individuals, especially younger girls, to avoid placing hijab pins in their mouths and to use alternative methods for holding them while arranging headscarves.
