Appendicitis caused by ingestion of metal foreign body

• Autor(a) principal: Almeida Neto,José Inácio de
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Outros Autores: Guerini,Bruna Schawn, Almeida,Felipe Fernandes Nogueira de
• Tipo de documento: Relatório
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Journal of Coloproctology (Rio de Janeiro. Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2237-93632015000100059
• topic: Appendicitis; Foreign-body migration; Appendix; Laparotomy

INTRODUCTION: The ingestion of foreign bodies is a frequent occurrence, especially among children. The majority of these objects travel safely through the gastrointestinal tract, without causing symptoms or leaving sequelae. Acute appendicitis is the emergency surgical pathology of greater prevalence. However, the impaction of a foreign body into the appendicular lumen as an etiologic agent of appendicitis is a very rare event. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 21-year-old male patient with lower abdominal pain over approximately six days, in association with vomiting, fever and abdominal distension. After imaging studies, a radiopaque foreign body was identified in a pelvic topography, with distention and air-fluid levels in intestinal loops. Our patient was submitted to an open appendectomy, evidencing acute perforated appendicitis and the presence of two foreign bodies in its lumen. The patient progressed satisfactorily in the post-operative period, with use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. DISCUSSION: Foreign bodies impacted in the gastrointestinal tract are usually removed by endoscopic techniques. When these bodies cause infections, there should be a resolution, preferably by surgical laparoscopy, which will serve both for diagnostic as therapeutic purposes.