Laparoscopic management of bowel perforation by ingested pins and needles: Report of two cases with a literature review

Authors: Ng, Wai-Tat; Lee, Yiu-Kee; Kong, Chi-Kwan

Source: Surgical Practice, Volume 12, Number 3, August 2008 , pp. 102-106(5)

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Abstract:

A sharp pin or needle depicted on a routine abdominal X-ray film presents a rather alarming picture. Apparently, this intriguing entity has received scant attention thus far; a review of the literature found only 22 cases reported in sufficient detail for evaluation over the past four decades. Herein, we add two cases of our own. When all these cases are analyzed, a remarkably consistent - and rather peculiar - pattern of clinical features emerges. For example, young women are commonly involved and a history of ingestion is often absent, as are the abdominal signs. More recently, the advent of laparoscopy has allowed the surgical treatment to continue evolving as the feasibility of this approach gains recognition as a preferable option. Including the present two cases, there have been only five patients successfully managed totally by laparoscopic exploration and extraction. In the most recent four cases where there were no signs of the foreign body at laparoscopy, intraoperative fluoroscopy greatly aided in the localization of the elusive slender object.

Keywords: bowel perforation; needle ingestion; needle perforation; perforation; pin ingestion

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1633.2008.00410.x

Publication date: 2008-08-01