Viet Duc Friendship Hospital admitted a male patient named TVQ with abdominal pain. After taking X-rays and doing the necessary tests, the doctors diagnosed the patient with peritonitis due to perforation of a hollow organ and needed urgent surgery. During the surgery, the doctors found that the cause of the intestinal perforation was a toothpick. After that, the patient's abdominal cavity was cleaned and the two ends of the ileum at the perforation site were brought out to make an artificial anus.
According to doctors, common accidents in daily life are patients with esophageal or intestinal perforation due to foreign objects such as chicken bones, fish bones, etc. Even many elderly people have the habit of chewing toothpicks, especially bamboo toothpicks, when sleeping, which can easily cause unconscious swallowing and intestinal perforation. The hospital has received a case of accidentally swallowing a sewing needle while spinning the thread, but the patient subjectively did not go to the doctor, leading to intestinal perforation. In addition, in children, accidentally or intentionally swallowing foreign objects such as toys, screws, etc. can also cause scratches and perforation of the stomach esophagus.
According to Dr. Duong Trong Hien, Director of the Endoscopic Surgery Center, Head of the Department of Emergency Digestive Surgery (Viet-Germany Friendship Hospital), foreign bodies in the digestive tract can cause very dangerous complications and require immediate treatment. Because if left too late, there may be some serious complications such as mediastinal abscess due to esophageal perforation or peritonitis due to stomach or intestinal perforation..., even causing very severe gastrointestinal bleeding.
Patients who have swallowed foreign objects when coming to the hospital will be examined by doctors and have X-rays or CT scans to assess the damage caused by the foreign object. In cases where there is no risk of gastrointestinal perforation, they will be monitored. Some cases will be given laxatives and the foreign object will be monitored for exit or the movement of the foreign object will be monitored on X-rays. In cases where the damage is determined to be in the esophagus or stomach, the doctor can remove the foreign object using a flexible endoscope to identify the foreign object and remove the foreign object.
For foreign objects that perforate the esophagus that can cause damage such as mediastinal abscess, the doctor will perform surgery to drain the abscess, remove the foreign object, and open the stomach or jejunum. In cases of damage to the lower part of the stomach, small intestine, or colon, the doctor will perform surgery to remove the foreign object, suture the hole, or drain or create an artificial anus, as well as clean the abdominal cavity. Doctor Duong Trong Hien recommends: "When choking on a foreign object in the digestive tract, the patient needs to visit a medical facility, closely monitor the symptoms, and limit possible unfortunate complications."
News and photos: KIM OANH
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