Suppurative duodenitis and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis after toothpick ingestion

Evaluation of the risk factors for severe complications and surgery of intestinal foreign bodies in adults: a single-center experience with 180 cases

BACKGROUND

Foreign bodies (FBs) lodged in the intestine or causing intestinal complications are uncommon in clinical practice but may pose diagnostic difficulties and prove life-threatening. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for severe complications and surgery to aid clinicians in the diagnosis and management of intestinal FBs.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients in whom FBs were lodged in the intestine or caused complications from 2010 to 2020 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (Zhejiang, China). The characteristics of the patients and FBs, symptoms, imaging findings, diagnostics, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes were analysed. Furthermore, the risk factors for complications and surgery were investigated.

RESULTS

In total, 180 patients were included in our study. Most patients (76.1%) were unable to provide a history of ingestion. Bezoars were the most common FBs (35.6%). The FBs were mainly located in the duodenum (32.8%) and the ileum (27.8%). Surgical removal of FBs was successful in 89 (49.4%) patients and endoscopic removal in 54 (30.0%) patients. Eleven with perforations were treated conservatively. FBs located in the jejunum or ileum were more likely to cause severe complications than those located in the duodenum. FBs located in the jejunum, ileum, or sigmoid colon were more likely to undergo surgery, and severe complications were an independent risk factor for surgery.

CONCLUSION

Intestinal FBs, often localized in angulation, are likely to be misdiagnosed because most patients do not provide a history of FB ingestion. Surgery and endoscopic therapy are the most commonly used treatment modalities. Surgery is not mandatory in clinically stable patients with small and contained perforations. FBs located in the jejunum or ileum are risk factors for both complications and surgery.

Foreign body causing superficial venous thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolism: a case report

BACKGROUND

Superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) is common, but often perceived to be a non-serious condition. This pathology should not be overlooked as it can lead to complications that may require anticoagulation. We present a case of SVT complicated by pulmonary embolism (PE) revealing an unexpected cause.

CASE SUMMARY

A 41-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department for chest pain and intense sudden pain of the left groin, revealing an extended great saphenous SVT associated with a PE. Further investigation showed that the thrombosis was caused by a sewing needle located between the superficial femoral artery and the femoral vein. Successful extraction was performed in a vascular surgery unit.

DISCUSSION

Superficial venous thrombosis can be associated with deep venous thrombosis and PE, and can be caused by local inflammation, direct compression, and foreign bodies. These aetiologies should be investigated if no evident cause to SVT is found.

Successful diagnosis and treatment of ingested wooden toothpicks: Two case reports

RATIONALE

Foreign-body ingestion is a common phenomenon and foreign bodies are mostly excreted in stool. Once sharp bodies are ingested without being realized, perforation of intestine is possible and misdiagnosis may be made. We report 2 toothpick ingestion cases that were both diagnosed accurately.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We present 2 cases of middle-aged persons who suffered from abdominal pain. They did not realize and provide any information of having the history of swallowing foreign bodies.

DIAGNOSES

No serious problem was discovered in the examination and blood test. There were somewhere abnormal in computed tomography (CT) images and ultrasound (US). Then a toothpick was found penetrating the wall of intestine into the adjacent viscera in the laparotomy.

INTERVENTIONS

Both patients in the 2 cases were undergone operation to remove the toothpicks.

OUTCOMES

The 2 cases' prognoses were good.

LESSONS

When accepting patients with abdominal pain, suitable examining means and careful observation should be given to find easily ignored lesions. CT is recommended in the diagnostic process of swallowed foreign mass. When there is a vague place, US can be used for further diagnose.