2024 Volume 49 Issue 2 Pages 66-70
By abdominal radiography, a foreign body was accidently identified in an 82-year-old woman. Further imaging by contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography revealed the presence of a highly absorbent foreign body in the descending colon, with indications suggesting a possible penetration of the left abdominal wall by the tip of the object. The patient was admitted to the hospital for further management. Upon admission, a lower gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a nail-like metallic fragment lodged in a diverticulum within the descending colon. The mobility of the metallic fragment was poor, and the possibility of penetration into the abdominal wall was suspected. Therefore, we planned a surgical removal of the foreign body. After mobilizing the left colon through a laparoscopic external approach, fluoroscopy-guided endoscopy was used to confirm the presence of the foreign body. The foreign body was observed to have been dislodged and shifted proximally due to the mobilization. The foreign body was removed endoscopically using grasping forceps, and a diverticulum that appeared to have herniated into the extraperitoneal space was wedge-resected. The patient had a favorable postoperative outcome and was discharged on postoperative day 13.
