title: Removal of a mis-swallowed long spoon via gastrotomy--a case report.
abstract: Foreign body ingestions are a frequent occurrence, a common presentation at emergency departments, but long, pointed-end metallic spoon swallowing is an uncommon occurrence. Unlike most cases of foreign-body ingestion, there have been no cases of spontaneous passage reported. Consequently, prompt removal is recommended before complications develop. We report a case of accidental ingestion of a long, pointed metallic spoon which failed to pass through the gastrointestinal tract and be excreted. This patient was managed successfully with gastrotomy to remove the object. We recommend this approach for the removal of long pointed foreign bodies to avoid complications developing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80707, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Kuo
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kung-Shing
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mei-Chuna
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Tzeng-Jih
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mee-Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils; D004064:Digestive System / Q000528:radiation effects; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography