Exceptional Multiple Foreign-Body Ingestion by a Patient with Schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Psychiatry
• General Surgery

Background:

• Swallowing foreign bodies in adults is rare, often linked to accidental ingestion or psychological conditions.
• A 32-year-old male presented with abdominal pain, a history of ingesting multiple objects, and was admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

Observation:

• Endoscopic confirmation and psychological assessment preceded surgical intervention.
• Laparotomy revealed 29 diverse foreign objects within the stomach, necessitating gastrotomy for removal.

Findings:

• Post-operative psychiatric evaluation diagnosed Schizophrenia with cannabis use disorder.
• The patient's condition required a multidisciplinary approach involving surgery and psychiatry.

Implications:

• This case emphasizes the critical need to seriously consider and investigate patients' complaints, even unusual ones.
• Early and accurate diagnosis of foreign body ingestion and underlying psychiatric conditions can prevent significant morbidity and mortality.