Abstract
We experienced an operative case of a duodenal foreign body (toothbrush) manifesting itself 3 years after swallowing.
A 60-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with the chief complaints of epigastric pain, hematemesis and bloody stool. Endoscopic examination showed a stick like foreign body in the duodenum. Attempts to remove it with forceps were unsuccessful. On questioning, she was reminded of swallowing accidentally a toothbrush 3 years before and forgot it without complains. An abdominal roentogenogram revealed that the toothbrush was wedged in the descending portion of the duodenum, and laparotomy was therefore performed.
Twenty cases of toothbrush swallowing have been reported during past 20 years. Endoscopic removal or surgical operation should be undertaken because none of the toothbrushes have passed spontaneously. If long foreign bodies can fixed at the angulated portions of the duodenum, early removal should be performed, bearing in mind the risk of bleeding and perforation.
