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Published on: September 11, 2018
Ingested Foreign Body Causing Duodenal and Colonic Perforations in a Child
Dileep Garg1, Aditya Pratap Singh2, Sunil Kothari1
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, SN Medical College Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Most ingested foreign bodies pass harmlessly, but a hair clip caused severe gastrointestinal issues in a child. Surgical intervention was required to remove the object and repair duodenal and colonic perforations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Foreign Body Ingestion
Background:
- Ingested foreign bodies are common in children.
- Most pass spontaneously, but complications can occur.
- Surgical intervention is sometimes necessary for gastrointestinal foreign bodies.
Observation:
- A 1.5-year-old child presented with vomiting and obstruction.
- The child had ingested a hair clip.
- Physical examination revealed signs of intestinal obstruction.
Findings:
- Operative findings included duodenal and colonic perforations.
- The ingested hair clip was identified as the cause.
- Successful surgical removal of the hair clip and repair of perforations were performed.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for serious complications from ingested foreign bodies, even seemingly innocuous items like hair clips.
- Prompt surgical evaluation is crucial for children presenting with symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction after foreign body ingestion.
- Early diagnosis and management can prevent life-threatening outcomes.
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