New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-20
EXPLORING A BOYS LUNGS.
REMARKABLE CASE OF SURGERY.

A PIN EXPELLED FROM THE LUNGS AFTER SEARCH
HAD BfEN MADE THROUGH THE wINDPIPE
Albert Austin, the twelve-year-od son of Tax
Collector r. s. Austin Of wangford Conn.,,
while in the act Of blowing a pin through a tin
tube on September T. laughed and drew the pin
from the tube into his throat. He Immediately
began to congh violently aud it was feared
that he would choke to death before the
arrival OF physician. When the physi-
clan came he made attempt to
remove the pin with forccps but in so doing 1T was
forced or passed through the windpipe into the
bronchial tubes. The boy had frequent fits of
coughing in consequence of the efforts of nature to
remove the foreign substance. expectOratcd mucus
continually, ,vomtcd after taking food, and upon one
occasion threw up small quantity of blood. He did
not spit any blood, however, which was considered
favorable sign. The boy in fair
health well nourishcd, and complained only Of
q constant irritating cough, which, however,
was without pain. His appetite remained
good, but the stomach rejected all food. consul
taton of all the local physicians was held and
further attempt was made to remove the pin. with
out success and 1t finally determined that it
wond require n surgical operation TO extract it,
and the boy taken from his home to the Mount
Sinai Hospital IN this city for treatment.
Upon his arrival at the hospital an examination
was made. Respiration was found to be weak and his
voice greatly dimnshet in tone There were sbilant
and sonorous raes and slight dulness in the left
lung, which would disappear at frequent intervals
and appear with the intens ty in the right lung
peculiar hoarse, whistlng noise was discovered
in the right lung the middle lobe, in 'front.' and
after minute examination of the boys throat with
a laryngoscopo it was concluded that the pin had
passed into rhe right lung and lodged in the middle
IL q hntr taxa IN
operating room and cboroformed. In the presence
of number of ply sicans the attending physician,
after the boys head had been placed in position
fully TO expose the throat, ma e an nclsion on the
Inc of the wndpipe as close to the breast bone as
was consistent with safety, about an inch and a
half long and he skin, muscles aud fatty sub
stauce divided. The operation cons derably
DELAYED and the danger increased by the fact that
the trachea was unusually deep and situated to the
left of the medan line. Tho knife was sparingly
used and great precaution taken not TO sever veins
unnecessarily as their is always danger as soon as
the windpipeIs cut that tho blood will rush through
the opening mo the lungs and snffocate the
patient.
After the nesh had bcen carefully removed from
the trachca, and the bleeding had been stepped an
incision was made with quick stroke OF the knife
through the wlndpipc and direct passage opened
|
shapes were repeatedly passed. into the tubes OF the
right lung with the hope Of soizing the pin, but IT
could not b. found. 1t wac then deterinncd. after
consultation that the operation bo discontinued
until an instrument adapted to this particu-
lar case, drawing Of which was
submitted by the attending physician.
could be made. A silk thread was then
stitched To- each Of the trachoal rings and inicgu-
ments on ci ihcr side of the passage aud left OF sf-
ncient length TO afford "a means of opening he
;rachca ncIsop whcu necessary. Catgut stitches
were al taken ia the skin aud bandascs oi gaHze
were also applied IN the wound. lho operation
laNed about orc hour and q half. Tho patient
.prodiy recovered from the shock, mud suffered
oily from slight stomuch trouble. The u. chenl
h, and VIA k.id opeuBN repeatedly sturng u with
gauzc. The on signs IN tho lung were eonorous,
sbIlant ialca on both nlcH
On Scptcmhcr 20 tie boy wns again chloro-
formed A dOublc tube. one htting closely inside
the other. 80 M 10 allow the inner one to be- Ir-
moved aud any mucus that might accumulate to be
tnhrn out, was introduced through the opening
into the windpipc. Ia allold greater facility Tor
breathing. The tube litird tho opening exactly 80
M 10 prevent all foreign matter from pass ng INTO
the lungs. shortly after the tube was inserted the
boy was ~ zcd with violent III OF spnsmodic
coughing during lich the larynN seemed To close
entirely the patient got black IN the lace ana was
IN dancer OF suilOcatlOJ. Inc tube WAS
auicLly removed and the boy turned over upon his
coughing and during an extra violent spasmodlc
effort the pin was expelled with considerable
force through the larnyx ana ont OF the mouth.
| he wound IN he throat was then closed and
dressed with u specially prcpa,cd iodofonn gauz':
he boy recovered with remarkable Iapl NY, and
two days later was discharged cured and sent
home