title: Small bowel obstruction 5 years following the ingestion of serrated scissors.
abstract: Ingested foreign bodies are common in the cohort of psychiatric patients, however clinical quiescence in this group is rare. We present a case of a 45-year-old female with emotionally unstable personality disorder (borderline type) presenting with partial intestinal obstruction 5 years after the known ingestion of serrated metallic scissors. In the asymptomatic interim a conservative approach of tracking the blades radiologically was taken. Following discussion, we conclude the following: early surgical intervention is encouraged if natural passage does not occur within 3 days following ingestion, and that any concurrent surgical needs should be addressed at this time.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, Sherwood Forest NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Limb
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, Sherwood Forest NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, UK, edward.karam@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery, Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK.
authors.forename: Krishna M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lingam