Laparoscopic removal of ingested pin penetrating the gastric wall in an immunosuppressed patient

Foreign body ingestion is a well-recognized and relative common problem. Most foreign bodies pass spontaneously and uneventfully through the digestive tract. In some cases, however, the ingestion of foreign bodies is associated with a high risk of complications because of their size or shape or the hosts medical status. We report a case of successful laparoscopic removal of an accidentally ingested pin that was penetrating the anterior gastric wall in a immunosuppressed patient. After removal of the pin, the opening of the gastric wall was closed with an extracorporeal hand-suturing technique. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged in good health on the 5th day after the procedure. Laparoscopy should be considered the approach of choice for the removal of ingested foreign bodies when surgery is indicated.