Managing Multiple Foreign Body Ingestion: A Clinical Case and Surgical Approach
Fakhiri Nassima
Department of General Surgery, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
Belbsir Mohamed *
Department of General Surgery, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
Ettaoussi Abdelhak
Department of General Surgery, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
Kamal Khadija
Department of General Surgery, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
Majd Abdessamad
Department of General Surgery, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
Bouali Mounir
Department of General Surgery, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
Bakouri Abdelilah
Department of General Surgery, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
El Hattabi Khalid
Department of General Surgery, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A 23-year-old male with a history of alcoholism and psychotropic drug use was admitted after ingesting multiple foreign bodies, including batteries and glass shards, as part of a self-harm attempt. He presented with diffuse abdominal pain, primarily localized in the epigastric and periumbilical regions, accompanied by rectal bleeding. A CT scan revealed hyperdense foreign bodies located in the ileocecal region and colonic framework. An additional foreign body (a needle) was found intraoperatively in the extradigestive area. Given the associated risks, including chemical burns, intestinal perforations, and systemic toxicity, urgent surgical intervention was performed. A median laparotomy successfully removed multiple foreign bodies, and postoperative recovery was uneventful. This case underscores the importance of swift intervention and vigilant postoperative follow-up, including psychological evaluation, to prevent severe complications after the ingestion of foreign bodies.
Keywords: Foreign body ingestion, multiple foreign bodies, chemical burns, intestinal perforation, systemic toxicity, self-harm