A novel approach to removal of ingested sharp objects in a 25-year old patient with 23 prior procedures

Abstract

Recurrent ingestion of sharp foreign body ingestion is a rare phenomenon but it challenges the surgeon since the patient often has been operated on several times before, making a simple gastrotomy a high risk procedure. Here we report a patient with 23 prior procedures due to foreign body ingestion of which 15 were knives. In the case presented she had an 18 cm long steak knife embedded in the esophageal mucosa. An overtube was not available why a rigid endoscope was successfully used in combination with a colon polypectomy snare.