Abstract
Inhalation of foreign bodies is a phenomenon that varies with age. It is common in children and rare in adults. The scarf pins represent a potential risk in women who wear the headscarf. We report a study conducted between January 2007 and January 2015 on 65 patients. The average age was 19 years. Inhalation was incidental in all cases. The penetration syndrome was found in all patients, bronchial syndrome in 26% of cases and hemoptysis in 28% of cases. Physical examination was unremarkable. Chest radiography objectified the foreign body in the form of a linear radiopaque localized opacity in the left hemithorax in 56% of cases. Eight patients have spontaneous expulsion. Flexible bronchoscopy performed in other patients, helped to visualize the foreign body in the left basal pyramid in 32% of cases and in the right basal pyramid in 26% of cases. The foreign body was not visualized in 5%. Bronchoscopy found a foreign body covered with a granuloma in 48% of cases. The extraction operation by the flexible bronchoscopy was successful in 94% of cases. The use of rigid bronchoscopy after failure of flexible bronchoscopy was reported in one case. Thoracotomy was indicated in 5% of cases. Through this study, foreign bodies also seem to be the prerogative of the adult. The pin scarf is a particular foreign body in which health education would be desirable to prevent inhalation.
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