[A Challenge: Colorectal Foreign Bodies]

Colorectal foreign bodies are commonly seen in the emergency department. A delayed consultation may be associated with a worse outcome. Despite a low-lying position, the extraction can be a challenge and has to be done under general anesthesia. Sharp or potentially dangerous foreign bodies should be excluded before extraction manoeuvres and complications have to be ruled out after the retrieval.

Data were retrospectively collected from 2002 to 2017. Overall 33 patients were included. In addition, a systematic search, employing the PRISMA criteria, was performed. The search was carried out on PubMed (1623), Cochrane Library (17) and Google Scholar (300). Case reports, papers not written in English and publications before 1980 were excluded.

With an average delay of 33 h, patients admitted themselves to the emergency department. Attempts to remove foreign bodies in the emergency department were successful in 2 cases (6%). General anaesthesia was required in 31 (94%) patients. An emergency laparotomy was necessary in 3 cases (9%). No complications were noticed.

A delayed consultation is not associated with a worse outcome. Complications should be ruled out by endoscopy. After a normal control, the patient can be discharged prematurely without further imaging.