Transluminal Migration of an Ingested Foreign Body from the Gastrointestinal Tract to the Free Abdominal Cavity

Abstract

Introduction:

Transluminal migration of an ingested foreign body from the gastrointestinal tract to the free abdominal cavity is an extremely rare event.

Materials and Methods:

We present a case of a 14-year-old male patient with ingested prosthetic dental wire, which was not eliminated spontaneously for 1 month. While the patient had no specific abdominal symptom, abdominal CT revealed the translocation of this foreign body into the left paracolic gutter.

Results:

Laparoscopic exploration was performed, but the wire was not found in its initial location. Intraoperative abdominal X-ray was taken to find the wire to be placed below the distal transverse colon. Since the wire was found outside the bowel lumen, it was simply removed by a forceps. The recovery was uneventful.

Conclusions:

We need to be aware that an ingested sharp foreign object can penetrate through the bowel lumen without causing any specific symptoms. In addition, such penetrated foreign object can change its location in the abdominal cavity, which makes it more difficult for a surgeon to pinpoint its accurate location.

No competing financial interests exist.

Runtime of video: 5 mins