The ingestion of needles and open safety pins is not uncommon in pediatric and adult patients. An open safety pin can be removed by using an over-tube in adults. However, this instrument is too large for the pediatric age group. Needles are impossible to remove due to their horizontal position when grasped with forceps. The following technique has been successfully performed at our institution and is designed to remove both needles and open safety pins from the stomach. Insert a #16 French (Davol Inc) rubber rectal tube into the stomach through the mouth. Insert scope into the stomach and grasp the body of the needle with rat tooth forceps. Pass a long WV or rat tooth forceps through the rectal tube and grasp the eye of the needle. Release the body and draw the needle slowly into the rectal tube. Remove the scope and rectal tube together. For an open safety pin, grasp the body of the pin with rat tooth forceps as close as possible to the lock. Pass the snare through the rectal tube and go over the safety pin at the open end. Close the snare slowly until the pin is locked. Hold the eye or the round part of the safety pin with rat tooth forceps and remove both tubes together.

Conclusion: This method is safe, fast, and effective in removing a needle or an open safety pin and avoids a laparotomy and possible perforation.