Fishing out a foreign body for a penetrating renal injury by a dead catfish in a pediatric patient

Abstract

Different species of marine and freshwater fish can cause significant morbidity for humans. These include systemic complications associated with their biological toxins or mechanical injury inflicted via fins. Penetrating truncal injuries under these circumstances are rare and may present a diagnostic dilemma and a challenge to manage. We report a 10-year-old male who sustained a penetrating right flank injury from a dead catfish's barb. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen demonstrated a retained barb within the renal parenchyma. He underwent local wound exploration with removal of the foreign body in the operating room. We share our management of this rare and interesting case and discuss management of penetrating aquatic injuries. Keywords: Renal trauma, Penetrating retroperitoneal injury, Gafftop catfish, Fin, Barb, Pediatric