Management of Duodeneal Perforation Due to Toothpick Ingestion

Abstract

The ingestion of foreign bodies is one of the leading causes of severe morbidity and mortality in the gastrointestinal tract. A male patient, 47 years old, presented to the emergency department with two days of abdominal pain. The patient's physical examination revealed no indications of peritoneal irritation; only tenderness in the right upper quadran and flank was observed. A computed tomography examination revealed a foreign body that had perforated the third portion of the duodenum and extended into the retroperitoneal structures. A semi-elective laparotomy had been determined to remove the foreign object from the patient whose abdominal examination was normal and whose vital signs were stable. The third perforated region of the duedonum was repaired and omentopexy was performed. Six days after surgery, the patient was successfully discharged .

Keywords

• toothpick
• duodeneal perforation
• foreign body ingestion