Management of Accidental Sewing Needle Ingestion [Foreign Body Ingestion] by Watchful Expectancy: A Case Report.

Sewing needle ingestion by accident is an emergency condition requiring immediate treatment. The risk of perforation due to the sewing needle causes difficulty in needle retrieval and puts the patient at risk of perforative peritonitis. Immediate endoscopic retrieval may be attempted as early as possible. Treatment may vary from watchful expectancy to laparoscopy to laparotomy. Needle migration may occur from gastrointestinal tract into adjacent important vascular structures. This is a case report of accidental sewing needle ingestion by a teenager girl managed by watchful expectancy at our tertiary teaching hospital. The patient complained of slight abdominal pain, constipation and slight obstipation on admission; almost 16 hours after sewing needle ingestion. The patient was managed conservatively and treated with laxatives. Successful management of sewing needle ingestion by watchful expectancy has been reported in our case.