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Intestinal perforation due to an ingested foreign body: laparoscopic management
A Hebra1, A M Davidoff, S Ahmad
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
Journal of Laparoendoscopic Surgery
|March 1, 1996
Summary
A 10-year-old boy experienced abdominal pain after ingesting a toothpick. Laparoscopic surgery successfully removed the toothpick, resolving the intestinal perforation and leading to a full recovery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Ingested foreign bodies can cause serious gastrointestinal complications.
- Toothpick ingestion is rare but can lead to bowel perforation.
Observation:
- A previously healthy 10-year-old boy presented with left lower quadrant abdominal pain and fever 7 days after toothpick ingestion.
- Physical exam revealed localized peritoneal irritation and mild leukocytosis.
- Abdominal CT scan identified a toothpick within the sigmoid colon, perforating the bowel wall.
Findings:
- Laparoscopic exploration successfully identified and removed an 8-cm toothpick from the sigmoid colon perforation.
- Surgical repair of the sigmoid colon was performed via a small suprapubic incision.
- The patient experienced an uneventful recovery and was discharged 2 days post-procedure.
Implications:
- Laparoscopic surgery is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool for managing ingested foreign bodies causing intestinal perforation.
- Early diagnosis and minimally invasive intervention can lead to favorable outcomes in pediatric patients with toothpick-induced bowel perforation.