Simple endoscopic technique for retrieving a long foreign body from the stomach.
BACKGROUND
Foreign body ingestion occurs frequently and is a common problem confronting the general surgeon or gastroenterologist. Most foreign bodies pass spontaneously, but long items such as forks and spoons are unable to pass through the duodenum. These foreign bodies present a unique challenge for the endoscopist as they tend to T-bone at the gastro-oesophageal junction, making it technically very difficult to remove.


METHODS
We present a case of a young woman ingesting a spoon.


RESULTS
By using a single channel gastroscope, snare and altering the position of the operating table we were able to extract the long foreign body.


CONCLUSIONS
We describe an alternate, new technique that may help avoid a laparotomy in a patient presenting after ingestion of a retained gastric foreign body.
Beldholm
Bernard R
BR
The Canterbury Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. beldholm@yahoo.com
Lee
Alice U
AU
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery*; D020699:Gastroscopes; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013270:Stomach