1462 Yellow Jacket in the Colon: An Incidental Finding During Screening Colonoscopy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Findings arthropods in the GI system is rare, especially intact arthropods. We here by describe an intact yellow jacket found during a routine screening colonoscopy. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 52-year-old Caucasian male presented for routine screening colonoscopy. His past medical history was significant for hypertension and anxiety. He had used standard polyethylene glycol solution bowel preparation the day prior to the procedure. Physical examination was unremarkable. Colonoscopic examination was unremarkable except for an intact dead yellow jacket in the descending colon. The insect was not retrieved. DISCUSSION: Findings arthropods in the GI system is rare. Ants and wasps in the stomach and cockroach, drosophila and flour bugs in the colon have been reported. In majority of the cases, these findings are likely due to inadvertent accidental ingestion. In some cultures, insects such as flour bugs are consumed intentionally and may be rarely found in the colon during colonoscopy. Majority of the reported arthropods in the GI system were intact denoting likely resistance of their complex exoskeleton to the human digestive system. Majority of the ingested arthropods pass through the GI tract uneventfully but rarely can cause barely noticeable local reaction to severe system anaphylactic reaction. Our patient denied any knowledge of how the insect could have entered in to his gastrointestinal tract. It is likely that he inadvertently swallowed the yellow jacket in his bowel preparation solution and the insect made it to the descending colon intact likely aided by the rapid transit effects of the polyethylene glycol solution.