Removal of a sewing needle penetrating the wall of the third portion of the duodenum by double-balloon endoscopy

We describe successful removal a sewing needle penetrating the wall of the third portion of the duodenum by means of double-balloon endoscopy (DBE). The patient was a 47-year-old woman who accidentally swallowed a sewing needle and was admitted to our hospital. Abdominal radiography and abdominal computed tomography revealed a metallic object in the third portion of the duodenum. DBE performed by the antegrade approach, revealed that the sewing needle had penetrated the duodenal wall. The sewing needle was retrieved with biopsy forceps and pulled out together with the endoscope through the flexible overtube that remained positioned in the duodenum. There was no injury to the patient's esophagus or gastrointestinal wall. Our experience in this case suggests that sharp foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract can be safely removed by means of DBE. © 2011 Springer.