Removal of a Needle with Laparoscopic Surgery Combined with X-ray Fluoroscopy—A Case Report—

Abstract

A 28-year-old woman was referred to our hospital following the identification of an abdominal foreign body on radiographic examination performed at another hospital. She was asymptomatic and could not attribute the foreign body to any specific cause. Computed tomography revealed a small high-density object close to the inferior margin of the liver. Laparoscopic surgery was performed, and we identified a foreign body fused with the omentum. We carefully removed the foreign body, along with a portion of the peripheral omentum, without breaking the object. No foreign material remained in the surgical field ; this was confirmed fluoroscopically. The foreign body was a metallic needle. Urgent removal of foreign bodies is warranted because metallic objects may undergo corrosion and/or cause injury to abdominal organs. A small portion of the peripheral tissues into which the foreign body is lodged should be removed intraoperatively to prevent breakage of the object.