Intestinal perforation by foreign bodies.
OBJECTIVE
To present our experience of patients who presented with intestinal perforation by foreign bodies to our hospital between 1980 and 1998.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
University hospital, Spain.


METHODS
21 patients who presented with intestinal perforation by foreign bodies.


METHODS
Size of perforations, nature of foreign bodies, clinical symptoms, radiological findings, treatment and outcome.


RESULTS
The most common location was the terminal ileum (n = 11), followed by the rectosigmoid junction (n = 5). The objects were mainly bone fragments and toothpicks. The diagnosis was generally made at operation, and only 4 of the 21 patients had signs of pneumoperitoneum on the preoperative abdominal film. The most common treatment was simple suture of the defect.


CONCLUSIONS
Intestinal perforation by a foreign body is uncommon, and normally affects the ileocaecal and rectosigmoid regions, in which it is unusual to find pneumoperitoneum preoperatively. It must be considered in the differential diagnosis of such conditions as acute appendicitis and diverticulitis.
Pinero Madrona
A
A
Department of General Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain.
Fernández Hernández
J A
JA
Carrasco Prats
M
M
Riquelme Riquelme
J
J
Parrila Paricio
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D007422:Intestines; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies