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An unusual gastric foreign body
N A Muñoz1, H Takehara, T Hashimoto
1First Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Japan.
Insights
A 9-month-old boy swallowed an earring, which became lodged in his stomach. Early endoscopic examination is recommended for retained foreign bodies in children to prevent complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Foreign Body Ingestion
- Gastrointestinal Complications
Background:
- Foreign body ingestion is a common pediatric emergency.
- Most ingested foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal tract without issue.
- Complications can arise from lodged foreign bodies, necessitating intervention.
Observation:
- A 9-month-old infant ingested a small, closed earring.
- Radiologic imaging confirmed the earring's location within the stomach.
- Endoscopic removal attempts were unsuccessful.
Findings:
- Surgical exploration revealed the earring lodged in the pyloric ring.
- Erosion of the gastric mucosa by the earring caused firm anchoring.
- The unique impaction prevented further gastrointestinal passage.
Implications:
- Prompt endoscopic evaluation is crucial for retained gastric foreign bodies in children.
- Unusual impaction mechanisms can lead to gastrointestinal complications.
- Timely diagnosis and intervention can prevent serious adverse outcomes.
Abstract:
Ingestion of foreign bodies is common in children. The majority of those which reach the stomach will pass uneventfully through the gastrointestinal tract. We report here an 9-month-old boy who swallowed an earring. Several roentgenologic examinations revealed a small, closed earring in the stomach. Endoscopic removal failed. At surgery the earring was seen grasping the pyloric ring and one end had eroded the gastric mucosa. These caused the earring to anchor firmly to the pylorus, as if it were attached to an ear lobe. The unusual way in which it was lodged in the stomach caused the impediment to its further progress, but fortunately, this was without serious consequences. Early endoscopic examination for retained foreign bodies in the stomach is recommended.