Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
09:21
A Ligated Intestinal Loop Model in Anesthetized Specific Pathogen Free Chickens to Study Clostridium Perfringens Virulence
Published on: October 11, 2018
Duodenal perforation caused by a bird feather
Manash Ranjan Sahoo1, Anil Kumar
1Department of General Surgery, S.C.B Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha, India. manash67@gmail.com
BMJ Case Reports
|February 19, 2013
Summary
A bird feather caused duodenal perforation in a 64-year-old man. Early diagnosis of gastrointestinal foreign bodies is crucial for effective treatment and preventing complications.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Case Report
Background:
- Ingestion of gastrointestinal (GI) foreign bodies is a common clinical challenge.
- Certain populations, including the very young, elderly, alcoholics, and individuals with cognitive impairments, face higher risks.
Observation:
- A 64-year-old male presented with acute abdominal pain and signs of peritonitis.
- Initial imaging revealed free air under the diaphragm, suggesting perforation, but laparotomy did not identify the source.
- The patient developed delayed upper abdominal pain, prompting further investigation.
Findings:
- A subsequent upper GI endoscopy identified a bird feather penetrating the first part of the duodenum.
- The foreign body was successfully removed using endoscopic forceps.
- This case highlights a rare cause of duodenal perforation.
Implications:
- Delayed diagnosis of GI foreign bodies can lead to serious complications like perforation.
- A high index of suspicion is essential for timely diagnosis and management of GI foreign bodies.
- Endoscopic removal is a viable treatment option for certain penetrating GI foreign bodies.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
Esophageal perforation is a severe medical condition characterized by a breach in the integrity of the esophageal wall. This breach can occur due to various factors such as trauma, medical procedures, or underlying diseases. When the esophageal wall is compromised, it allows food, fluids, and digestive juices into the chest cavity or adjacent structures, leading to potential complications and health risks.
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus.
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus.
01:28Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Esophageal perforations manifest in various clinical forms, influenced by factors such as the perforation's cause and location (cervical, intrathoracic, or intra-abdominal), the extent of contamination, and potential injury to adjacent mediastinal structures. The timing between the perforation occurrence and treatment initiation also affects the clinical presentation.
Clinical Manifestations:
Clinical Manifestations:
01:25Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Complications
Duodenal UlcersDuodenal ulcers are the most common form of peptic ulcer disease, presenting with chronic, intermittent epigastric pain. Pain typically appears 2–3 hours after meals, especially when the stomach is empty, often waking patients at night. It is characteristically relieved by food or antacids (“pain–food–relief”). Some patients remain asymptomatic until complications like bleeding or perforation emerge, particularly with NSAID or anticoagulant use.Gastric UlcersGastric ulcers share...
01:27Diverticular Disease of the Colon
Diverticular disease involves the formation of diverticula—small sac-like outpouchings of the colonic wall—and their complications. It most commonly affects the sigmoid colon due to higher intraluminal pressure and structural vulnerability. It results from structural weakness and increased pressure in the colon, producing pseudodiverticula that may remain silent or progress to inflammation and serious complications.Structure of DiverticulaIn diverticulosis, these outpouchings are...
01:07Intestinal Obstruction II: Pathophysiology
Intestinal obstruction triggers a series of physiological responses, starting with gas and fluid accumulation in the bowel segment proximal to the obstruction, leading to distension. This distended intestine compresses the diaphragm, hindering lung expansion and potentially leading to reduced respiratory effort, atelectasis, and pneumonia.To overcome the blockage, the gut intensifies contractions, causing colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, which reduces fluid and food intake and...
01:27Peptic Ulcer
Peptic ulcers are erosive lesions of the gastric or duodenal lining, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This Gram-negative, helical bacterium has adapted to survive the stomach’s acidic environment by producing urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the bacterium’s immediate environment, allowing colonization of the gastric mucosa. H. pylori attaches to mucus-secreting epithelial cells, penetrates the mucus...