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Abdominal foreign body: late presentation as a rectus sheath abscess.
M Noushif1, S Sivaprasad, A Prashanth
1Department of Surgery, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Kerala University, Trivandrum 695011, Kerala, India. noushif@gmail.com
Singapore Medical Journal
|June 3, 2011
Summary
A mentally sound woman developed a rectus sheath abscess from a tailoring needle ingested 17 years prior. This rare case highlights delayed complications of intra-abdominal foreign bodies.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Case Reports
- Abdominal Imaging
Background:
- Intra-abdominal foreign bodies are uncommon, often associated with cognitive impairment.
- Ingested foreign bodies typically present acutely or are found incidentally.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old woman, without cognitive deficits, presented with chronic abdominal pain and a palpable hypogastric mass.
- Imaging revealed a rectus sheath abscess with a foreign body.
- The patient recalled ingesting a tailoring needle 17 years earlier.
Findings:
- The rectus sheath abscess was attributed to a long-retained, ingested foreign body.
- The foreign body was identified as a tailoring needle.
- Delayed presentation of intra-abdominal foreign body complications.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for delayed, severe complications from ingested foreign bodies, even in mentally sound individuals.
- Highlights the importance of thorough patient history in diagnosing unusual abdominal pathologies.
- Suggests the need for considering long-term foreign body retention in unexplained abdominal abscesses.
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