[Recurrent ingestion of foreign bodies and abdominal self-injury as a form of attempted suicide].
Accidental ingestion of foreign bodies is fairly common in the general population. However, recurrent, deliberate ingestion of foreign bodies associated with continual abdominal self-mutilation with blunt objects is extremely unusual. We present the case of a young woman with an underlying psychiatric disorder who repeatedly presented to the emergency department of our hospital for attempted suicide. The most frequent reason for presenting to the emergency department was ingestion of multiple objects, usually sharp metal objects, frequently associated with abdominal self-mutilation using a sharp instrument. Treatment consisted of extraction of the foreign bodies through upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or abdominal surgery. The patient has survived all these attempts with minimal morbidity.
Rodríguez Hermosa
J I
JI
Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica Digestiva, Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain. joserod@eresmas.net
Roig García
J
J
Ruiz Feliú
B
B
Gironès Vilà
J
J
Codina Cazador
A
A
Pont Vallès
J
J
Figa Francesch
M
M
González Huix
F
F
Acero Fernández
D
D
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D016896:Treatment Outcome