title: Duodenal perforation because of swallowed ballpoint pen and its laparoscopic management: report of a case.
abstract: Accidental ingestion of foreign objects by teenagers or young adults without mental impairment is a rare event. We present a case of a patient who unintentionally swallowed a ballpoint pen several days before seeking medical attention. She concealed the event until abdominal radiographs revealed the foreign object. Because swallowed foreign objects can be potentially harmful, they should be removed endoscopically as soon as possible to prevent development of complications. At times, they need to be removed operatively. This report describes the laparoscopic removal of a ballpoint pen that perforated the duodenum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, ABC Medical Center, Mexico City 01120, Mexico.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Golffier
authors.forename: Francia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Holguin
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004386:Duodenum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement