7” long knife for 7 years in the duodenum: a rare case report and review of literature

Abstract

Foreign body ingestion is a common occurrence both in sane and insane population. Quite a good number of interesting and unusual cases of foreign body ingestion has been reported in the surgical literature from time to time. Ingested foreign bodies varying widely in number, size and character, may travel through a distensible tube of comparatively small diameter causing mechanical insult to the intestinal wall without producing symptoms or permanent tissue damage. Accidental ingestion of the foreign body is by far the most common. Deliberate ingestion may result from an act of insanity, a dare, a habit or medicinal therapy. Retention of elongated or pointed objects in the duodenum is a frequent problem. Long, sharp, objects may perforate the duodenum and have been known to migrate widely in the abdomen. Early removal of such objects has been advised. This case forms rarity due to the fact that the 7 inches knife remained in the Duodenum for 07 long years without causing major catastrophe. From Medline as well as Medical library search we failed to find such a case report till date where the metallic foreign body has remained in the GIT for such a long time.