Review of intentionally self-inflicted, accidental and iatrogetic foreign objects in the genitourinary tract.
OBJECTIVE
Retrospective evaluation of a series of patients presenting with genitourinary foreign objects.


METHODS
From 1997 to 2007, 11 men and 2 women were treated for a variety of foreign objects in the genitourinary tract. Medical records were reviewed for presentation, diagnosis, mental status, drug dependency, treatment, and follow-up.


RESULTS
13 patients were seen for removal of the foreign objects or for treatment of the sequela. These objects were intentionally self-inflicted, accidentally introduced or iatrogenic in nature. Intentional objects included: safety pins, screwdriver, marbles, pen cap, pencils, straw, cocaine, stiff metal wire and part of a pizza mixer. Accidental objects included: magnets, female catheter, urinary incontinence devices and part of a Foley catheter. The iatrogenic object was a reservoir from an inflatable penile implant. Smaller noninjurious objects were retrieved cystoscopically or at the bedside; larger objects or objects associated with trauma to the urethra needed open and reconstructive operations.


CONCLUSIONS
Generally thought to be self-inflicted for personal gratification, the source of genitourinary objects can also be accidental or iatrogenic. The most traumatic injuries are purposely self-inflicted and found in patients who remove the objects themselves. These patients are at higher risk of permanent urethral damage needing complex surgical treatment and follow-up.
Department of Urology, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif 90027, USA. jocelyn.m.rieder @ kp.org
Jocelyn
J
Rieder
John
J
Brusky
Viet
V
Tran
Karen
K
Stern
Sherif
S
Aboseif
D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003558:Cystoscopy; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures; D055815:Young Adult