A Case of Multiple Perforations of the Jejunum Caused by Swallowing Magnets in a Schizophrenic Patient

Abstract

The patient was a man in his fifties who had suffered from schizophrenia for over 2 decades. He had been convinced that magnets would protect him, so he had been swallowing magnets for one month. He was admitted to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain. He had rebound tenderness across his entire abdomen. In addition, an abdominal X-ray showed a cluster of magnets and enlarged intestinal gas. He underwent an emergent operation for a perforation of the intestinal tract. A cluster of 55 magnets was found in the upper jejunum, consisting of 2 magnet groups and 3 holes in the jejunum. He underwent a partial resection of the jejunum. Postoperatively, he developed severe sepsis but recovered and was discharged from hospital 5 weeks later. Swallowing magnets results in various symptoms arising from internal fistulas through the intestinal tract, intestinal obstruction, and/or perforation. When a cluster of magnets is found in the gastrointestinal tract, it should be removed immediately before the case progresses to severe complications, as in the present case.