Korean J Med.
2006 Dec;71(6):668-672.
A case of colonoscopically removed toothpick in the sigmoid colon
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Kwak's Hospital, Daegu, Korea. pcihjhky@medigate.net
Abstract
- Most ingested foreign bodies spontaneously pass through the upper and lower intestinal tract. The impaction of an ingested foreign body in the colon is rare. Foreign bodies swallowed inadvertently often cause serious complications, such as perforation, obstruction, abscess formation, enterocolic fistula, or hemorrhage. Physicians should proceed with routine medical care while considering the possibility of the ingestion of a foreign body In cases where abdominal pain of an unknown origin is observed, particularly in elderly patients who wear dentures, alcoholics, mentally disturbed, or rapid eating, and presenting with altered bowel habits. We report a case of a colonoscopically-removed wooden toothpick that impacted the sigmoid colon and was complicated by the formation of a local abscess with a review of the literature.
