Swallowed sewing needle in the gastrointestinal tract

In a four year period three female patients who had swallowed a sewing needle presented for treatment. All had upper abdominal colicky pain. A straight X-ray of the abdomen was the single most useful investigation. Endoscopic retrieval was attempted in one patients. The needle had penetrated the wall of stomach or duodenum and entered into the pancreas in all three patients. Following surgical removal the patients recovered completely