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Updated: Oct 15, 2025
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Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
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A needle in the colon, the risk of ingested foreign objects: a case report
Darwin S Espin1, Jorge F Tufiño1, Jaime M Cevallos1
1Department of General Surgery, Hospital San Francisco, IESS, Quito, Ecuador.
Journal of Surgical Case Reports
|October 27, 2021
Summary
Foreign body ingestion, though common, rarely causes intestinal perforation. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and need for prompt surgical intervention in suspected cases of sharp object ingestion leading to colonic perforation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Case Reports
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Ingestion of foreign bodies is a frequent clinical occurrence.
- Intestinal perforation from foreign bodies is a rare but serious complication.
- Sharp and metallic foreign bodies pose the highest risk for complications.
Observation:
- A 19-year-old tailor presented with symptoms suggestive of abdominal pathology.
- The patient had inadvertently swallowed a needle.
- Clinical presentation was vague, mimicking other common abdominal conditions.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with colonic perforation secondary to foreign body ingestion.
- Preoperative diagnosis was challenging due to nonspecific symptoms.
- Prompt surgical intervention was necessary to manage the perforation.
Implications:
- A high index of suspicion is crucial for diagnosing foreign body ingestion, especially with sharp objects.
- Timely diagnosis and surgical treatment are essential to prevent severe complications.
- Complete recovery is possible with appropriate and prompt medical and surgical management.
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