A Case of Adhesive Ileus Caused by Perforation of the Sigmoid Colon by a Fish Bone

Abstract

A 94-year-old woman was transferred from another hospital because of abdominal pain and vomiting occurring the day before. Based on the CT scan perforation of the sigmoid colon by a fish bone and small intestinal obstruction was diagnosed, and the patient underwent an emergency operation. Laparotomy showed a small amount of glutinous ascites and diffuse adhesions with a kink of the mid small intestine. Postoperative course was uneventful. We do not usually encounter adhesions without a previous history of laparotomy. In addition, accidental ingestion of fish bones often causes perforation or penetration of the digestive tract, resulting in peritonitis or an intraabdominal abscess, but intestinal obstruction rarely occurs. We report herein on a case of small intestinal adhesions resulting from perforation of the sigmoid colon by a fish bone, and review the relevant literature.