Dr. Wiley Chung and Dr. Kirsten Nesset (centre) pose with members of the OR team that worked together on the case, showing off the pin after it was successfully removed.
Sometimes, the biggest achievements in health care aren’t powered by new technology. Instead, they’re made possible by teamwork and a little bit of resourcefulness.
Recently, a team at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) spent four hours solving a problem that many initially thought could only be fixed with major surgery. But their determination, creativity and teamwork helped a young patient avoid an invasive operation and return home the very next day.
The patient didn’t realize they had accidentally inhaled a small sewing pin. Weeks of coughing led to an X-ray that revealed the pin was lodged deep inside their left lung.
By the time they arrived at KHSC, the pin had become embedded in one of the smallest airways in the lung, making it extremely difficult to reach. There was a strong possibility the patient would need major surgery to remove the pin, or remove the portion of the lung where the pin was located.
Rather than moving directly to surgery, specialists from respirology and thoracic surgery came together with anesthesiologists, operating room nurses and endoscopy nurses to first explore every other possible option.
Over the next four hours, the team ‘MacGyvered’ equipment, switched between adult and pediatric tools, tested different retrieval devices and continually built on one another's ideas. While many of the approaches didn't work, each one brought them closer to the solution.
"There wasn't a single person in that room who wasn't contributing," says Dr. Wiley Chung, a thoracic surgeon at KHSC. "People kept asking, 'What else can we try?' That's what made the difference."
"It really was one of those moments where everyone came together for the patient," says Dr. Kirsten Nesset, a respirologist at KHSC. "No one was worried about whose idea it was. Everyone just wanted to find the best solution."
As the procedure stretched on, the team was nearly ready to move to the surgical option which could have resulted in the patient losing as much as 25 percent of their lung. Then, during an anesthesiology shift change, a fresh perspective prompted one final attempt.
With hours of careful work already completed, Dr. Chung adjusted his approach following some advice from a peer, grasped the tip of the pin and successfully removed it through the patient's airway.
The surgery everyone had hoped to avoid was no longer necessary. The patient went home the next morning and has since made a full recovery.
For Drs. Nesset and Chung, the case represents much more than a successful procedure. It reflects a culture where every member of the care team feels safe to speak up, share ideas and work together to solve complex problems.
"There wasn’t any kind of hierarchy and no ego," says Dr. Nesset. "Everyone felt comfortable sharing ideas. It didn't matter if you were a physician, a nurse or a learner. We all had the same goal."
Dr. Chung agrees.
“I give credit to the culture at KHSC and Queen's. We're used to practicing patient-centred care, not ego-centred care, so we feel safe asking for help. I know this sounds cheesy, but that's why I'm here. I'm never going to work anywhere else. I love my colleagues and healthcare providers across different divisions, departments, and disciplines. That's just the magical thing about this place.”
The operation could have ended with a large incision, an ICU stay, and a week of recovery. Instead, thanks to persistence and teamwork, one patient went home with their lung fully intact—a powerful reminder that exceptional care isn't just delivered by one person. At KHSC, it's delivered by teams that trust one another and innovate together..
