Laparoscopic Removal of a Broken Acupuncture Needle from the Retroperitoneum: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture, a widely practiced form of alternative medicine, is not without its risks. One of the most serious adverse events that can occur is needle breakage. The lodged part of a broken needle in the body, if not promptly removed, can lead to a host of serious complications, underscoring the urgent nature of this issue. Case presentation: We report the case of an 80-year-old woman who underwent transabdominal laparoscopic removal of a broken acupuncture needle that had remained lodged in the body after an acupuncture session. She had been receiving treatment regularly for low back pain at an acupuncture and moxibustion clinic. She was brought to our emergency room after the breakage of an acupuncture needle, a part of which had remained lodged beneath the skin in the peritoneal area. After an unsuccessful attempt at removal under local anesthesia, a surgical consultation was sought. Imaging revealed an acupuncture needle tip near the left paracolic gutter, which was immediately removed under general anesthesia. The acupuncture needle was extracted transperitoneally, as the broken needle was identified via laparoscopy through the peritoneum. Expeditious removal of needles and other foreign objects from the body is imperative due to the potential risks of their displacement to other organs, corrosion, and infection. Laparoscopic transperitoneal removal of a needle-like foreign body that reaches the retroperitoneum, the area behind the peritoneum, in proximity to the peritoneum, as demonstrated in this case, is an optimal approach. Conclusion: Needles and other foreign bodies left in the body are at risk of migration and should be removed as soon as possible. In some cases, it may be worth considering removing a foreign body that has reached the peritoneum via a laparoscopic approach.