Department of Surgery team recognized for innovative, collaborative patient care at KHSC

08 Sep, 2026

Dr. Abdulrahaman Alotaibi, Dr. Andrew Giles, Dr. Wiley Chung and Dr. Kirsten Nesset (Left) pose with members of the OR team that worked together on the case, showing off the pin after it was successfully removed.

A recent Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) story highlights an exceptional example of teamwork, creativity and patient-centred care involving members of the Department of Surgery.

Under the leadership of Dr. Wiley Chung, a multidisciplinary team at KHSC successfully removed a sewing pin that had become deeply embedded in a patient’s left lung, allowing the patient to avoid major surgery and preserve their lung.

Among the Department of Surgery team involved were Dr. Andrew Giles and Thoracic Fellow Dr. Abdulrahaman Alotaibi, who worked alongside colleagues from respirology, anesthesiology, operating room nursing and endoscopy nursing to find a solution to an extremely challenging clinical problem.

The pin was lodged in one of the smallest airways of the lung, making it difficult to access. Rather than proceeding directly to major surgery, the team spent approximately four hours exploring different approaches, adapting equipment and testing a variety of retrieval devices. When one approach did not work, the team continued to ask what else could be tried.

That persistence ultimately paid off. With the team nearing the point of proceeding with surgery, Dr. Chung made one final attempt to retrieve the pin through the airway and was successful. The patient was able to avoid an operation that could have required removal of a portion of the lung and was discharged home the following morning.

The case is a powerful example of what can be achieved when clinicians from different disciplines work together without hierarchy or ego, with one shared goal: finding the best possible outcome for the patient.

As Dr. Chung noted in the KHSC feature, the success of the case reflects the culture of patient-centred care at KHSC and Queen’s. One where team members feel comfortable asking for help, sharing ideas and learning from one another.

Read the full KHSC story: “One team. One goal. One remarkable outcome.”

The Department of Surgery is proud to recognize Dr. Chung, Dr. Giles and Dr. Alotaibi, along with the many colleagues across disciplines who contributed to this remarkable outcome. Their work is an excellent reminder that innovation in health care is not always about new technology. Sometimes, it is about resourcefulness, persistence and the strength of a great team.

Department of Surgery team recognized for innovative, collaborative patient care at KHSC

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