A Case of Laparoscopic Removal of a Foreign Body (Sewing Needle) from the Abdominal Cavity

Abstract

Removal of a sewing needle which had somehow lodged in the peritoneum of a 3-year-old boy was succesfully performed laparoscopically. The foreign body was found by accident on an abdominal X-ray. There was no previous history of the patient having undergone laparotomy or examinations. An upper gastrointestinal series of X-rays and CT revealed a needle lodged in the patient's peritoneal cavity. Laparoscopic retrieval was performed with the 3-port method. Using an image scope, we found the needle which was in the omentum. The needle was easily removed with laparoscopic forceps. It took only 23 minutes to finish the operation. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged from our hospital on the 3rd day after the operation.