Man at risk of intestinal perforation after swallowing toothpick

Patient Hoang Van D was admitted to the hospital with high fever, severe pain in the epigastric region, continuous and increasing stabbing pain and nausea. Through examination, the patient had abdominal distension, pain in the entire abdomen, abdominal wall reaction (+), peritoneal sensation (+). Blood test showed high white blood cell count. Ultrasound detected abdominal fluid, left epigastric region with a lesion with a diameter of 45.95mm, inside there was turbid fluid and suspicious foreign body image.

The patient was diagnosed with generalized peritonitis, suspected to be caused by a foreign body in the abdomen; emergency surgery was indicated.

Ultrasound image detects foreign object in the abdomen of patient Hoang Van D.

The doctors opened the abdomen and discovered that the lesion was an inflammatory mass located in the epigastrium, isolated from the digestive tract, covered by the omentum, and the abdominal cavity contained a lot of cloudy fluid and pseudomembrane. The patient had the inflammatory mass removed, the abdominal cavity cleaned, and a drain placed. The doctors opened the inflammatory mass and found a lot of rotten pus and a foreign object inside, a hard bamboo toothpick with sharp ends.

Doctors at Cua Dong General Hospital have just performed surgery to remove a foreign object from patient Hoang Van D. Photo: Cao Phuong

The surgery was successfully performed after nearly 1 hour. Currently, the patient's health is stable, pain is reduced, fever has gone, he can move around and is expected to be discharged in the next few days.

Image of foreign object removed from patient's abdomen. Photo: Cao Phuong

Mr. D shared that a week ago, after finishing eating, he broke a tree branch to use as a toothpick. While falling asleep, he accidentally swallowed the toothpick.

After surgery, the patient's health is stable and he is expected to be discharged in the next few days. Photo: Cao Phuong

Using toothpicks is a habit of many people, some of whom often hold toothpicks in their mouths when lying down, walking, or even talking, which is not only unsightly but can also be dangerous to themselves.

Master, Doctor Thai Doan Cong, the doctor who treated and directly operated on the patient, said that patients who accidentally swallow toothpicks often run the risk of having the toothpick pierce their digestive tract, which can cause dangerous complications and even death if not detected and intervened promptly.

If a toothpick is accidentally swallowed, the patient should quickly go to a medical facility for examination, gastrointestinal endoscopy to remove the toothpick as soon as possible or surgery when indicated./.