A woman residing in Kolkata found herself undergoing an intricate surgical procedure to extract the screw of her nose pin, which had inadvertently become lodged in her lung after an accidental inhalation. This surreal ordeal unfolded for the 35-year-old Varsha Sahu, who had been donning the nose pin since her wedding approximately "16-17 years back."
In a conversation with the BBC, Varsha recounted her astonishment, confessing that she had been oblivious to the fact that the screw had become detached. The incident transpired nearly two months ago while she was engaged in casual conversation, and with a simple deep breath, the tiny screw found its way into her airway.
"I had no inkling that it had made its way into my respiratory system. Initially, I assumed it had been swallowed and lodged in my stomach," Varsha revealed to the BBC, still astounded by the turn of events.
The revelation of this peculiar predicament occurred in March when Varsha sought medical attention due to breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, and a diagnosis of pneumonia. Initially attributing her symptoms to a previous nasal injury, she eventually sought the counsel of a pulmonologist when conventional medication failed to alleviate her discomfort.
A computed tomography (CT) scan unveiled the presence of the screw within her lung, a revelation confirmed by subsequent X-rays pinpointing its exact location.
Dr. Debraj Jash, a pulmonologist at Kolkata's Medica Superspecialty Hospital who spearheaded the surgical intervention, characterized Varsha's case as "extremely rare." He elaborated, stating that while instances of foreign objects such as dried fruits or betel nuts becoming lodged in the lungs are not unheard of, they typically involve either young children or elderly individuals above the age of 80. Varsha's circumstance, being a woman in her 30s, presented a noteworthy exception.
When the initial attempts to retrieve the screw proved futile, Dr. Jash was tasked with the delicate procedure. The challenge lay in the fact that the foreign object had been ensconced within Varsha's lung for over two weeks, leading to the growth of tissue around it. Dr. Jash emphasized the necessity for meticulous care during the extraction process, given the narrow confines of the airway. Any inadvertent contact with the airway could precipitate injury and subsequent bleeding, posing grave risks.
Following the triumphant completion of the surgery, Varsha was discharged from the hospital four days later, relieved to bid farewell to this unexpected chapter in her life.
