Characteristics and Outcomes Associated With Emergent Rectal Foreign Body Management: A Retrospective Cohort...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Emergency Medicine
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Management of rectal foreign bodies presents challenges due to object complexity and potential for severe complications like perforation.
• Prior research lacks clarity on optimal settings for minimizing complication rates during foreign body extraction.
• Rectal foreign body retrieval is a common emergency department presentation requiring careful clinical evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare complication rates between emergency department and operating room settings for rectal foreign body removal.
• To assess the efficacy of bedside management versus surgical intervention for rectal foreign bodies.
• To identify factors influencing outcomes in rectal foreign body extraction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of adult patients undergoing rectal foreign body removal.
• Data collected from a large county hospital emergency department between 2010 and 2020.
• Comparison of outcomes, including complications, anesthesia type, and length of stay, between emergency department and operating room procedures.

Main Results:

• Over 50% of rectal foreign bodies were successfully removed in the emergency department without complications.
• Operating room interventions were associated with higher rates of exploratory laparotomy, colectomy, and general anesthesia.
• Patients treated in the operating room experienced significantly higher complication rates and longer hospital stays compared to those managed in the emergency department.

Conclusions:

• Emergency department management of rectal foreign bodies demonstrates a high success rate and low complication profile.
• Bedside retrieval in the emergency department is a safe and effective strategy, reducing the need for invasive operating room procedures.
• Physician vigilance, communication, and compassionate clinical methodology are crucial for optimizing bedside retrieval success and minimizing complications.