Hepatic abscesses secondary to a foreign body in the common bile duct

Laura Carballo Rodríguez1, Inmaculada Ruiz Montesinos2, Raúl Jiménez Agüero2

  • 1Cirugía General y Digestiva, Hospital Universitario Donostia, España.

Insights

Foreign body ingestion causing gastrointestinal perforation and subsequent hepatic abscesses, particularly involving the common bile duct, is exceptionally rare. This case highlights an unusual presentation in a 75-year-old male with fever and weakness.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Hepatic abscesses are uncommon complications of gastrointestinal (GI) perforations.
  • Foreign body ingestion leading to GI perforation is a rare event.
  • Perforation extending to the common bile duct presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Observation:

  • A 75-year-old male presented with a week of fever, discomfort, and weakness.
  • The patient had a history suggestive of foreign body ingestion.
  • Clinical presentation indicated a severe intra-abdominal infectious process.

Findings:

  • The patient was diagnosed with hepatic abscesses.
  • A GI perforation was identified, originating from the gastric antrum.
  • The perforation tract extended into the common bile duct, a highly unusual pathway.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering rare complications of foreign body ingestion.
  • It highlights the diagnostic difficulty in attributing fever and weakness to such a specific GI perforation.
  • Management strategies for hepatic abscesses secondary to biliary tract involvement require careful consideration.

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