Vietnamese doctors remove open safety pin from Kazakh baby’s esophagus

The baby was transferred from a hospital in Da Nang City on July 4 in critical condition after swallowing the safety pin.

Examinations found that the pin had sprung open inside the child's esophagus, posing a high risk of tearing the lining, perforating the esophagus, causing bleeding, mediastinitis, and other life-threatening complications if not removed promptly.

Upon receiving the patient, the hospital's leadership convened an emergency consultation involving specialists from the endoscopy center, surgery department, and anesthesiology and intensive care department to determine the safest treatment plan.

Doctors then performed an emergency endoscopy under general anesthesia.

Using specialized instruments and close coordination among multiple specialties, the medical team successfully removed the open safety pin without causing further injury to the esophagus or any complications.

According to the doctors, an open safety pin is one of the most difficult foreign objects to remove from a young child's digestive tract because its sharp tip can easily become embedded or shift during the procedure, increasing the risk of perforating the esophagus and damaging nearby organs.

After two days of close monitoring, the girl recovered well, resumed normal eating, and was discharged from the hospital.

Hue Central Hospital recognized among Asia-Pacific's leading oncology hospitals

Hue Central Hospital also announced that it has been included for the first time in the Best Specialized Hospitals Asia Pacific 2026 rankings by Newsweek magazine and data research firm Statista in the oncology specialty.

The rankings recognize leading specialized hospitals across the Asia-Pacific region based on criteria including professional reputation, quality of care, international certifications, assessments by healthcare experts, and patient feedback.

The hospital said the recognition reflects its sustained investment in infrastructure, technology, medical workforce, and clinical expertise.

Over the years, the hospital has developed a multidisciplinary oncology program offering a full range of cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and palliative care, helping improve treatment outcomes and patients' quality of life.