Three cases of an unusual foreign body in small bowel

Abstract

The inadvertent ingestion of foreign bodies is an infrequent occurrence in adults. Three cases of an unusual form of foreign body ingestion are reported here. In each case the foreign body recovered was a plastic bag clip, found attached to the small bowel mucosa. The radiographic appearances of this foreign body are demonstrated, and the pathologic findings related to its ingestion are reviewed.

Plastic bag clip discovered in partial colectomy accompanying proposal for phylogenic plastic bag clip classification

“…The radiologist co-author of the present case report (RK) experimented by placing three different plastic clips in the CT scanner in order to determine whether they would give a signal; nothing showed up on the scan. However, Guindi et al assert that in two out of three cases where radiographs were taken, an accumulation of calcium, phosphate and oxalate bile salts on the plastic ties caused them to show up as ‘opaque densities’ in which the tie’s characteristic configuration was identifiable on close inspection 13. Tang et al assert that while conventional radiographs and CT scans revealed small bowel obstruction, the cause could not be identified through either method 14.…”

Button Gastrostomy Obstructing the Ileocecal Valve Removed by Colonoscopic Retrieval

“…A variety of other foreign bodies can become lodged in the distal small inte stine (14)(15)(16). Lar son (17) reported retrieving two wing nut s that were lodged in the ileocecal valve.…”

Replacing plastic bread clips with cardboard will prevent bowel perforation

“…Of the people who ingest these clips, a surprisingly large proportion (20%) consists of healthy adult males who allegedly ate their meals too quickly 9,12,14,17,22,25,26,30,31 . That being said, the vast majority of cases are either elderly, edentulous, intoxicated, visually or cognitively impared 11,13,15,19,22–24,32–40 . In the latter cohorts, little can be done to prevent ingestion, instead the focus should be on preventing bowel perforation by modifying the material to one which is safer to ingest.…”

“…9,12,14,17,22,25,26,30,31 That being said, the vast majority of cases are either elderly, edentulous, intoxicated, visually or cognitively impared. 11,13,15,19,[22][23][24][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] In the latter cohorts, little can be done to prevent ingestion, instead the focus should be on preventing bowel perforation by modifying the material to one which is safer to ingest.…”