Appendicular-intestinal fistula caused by magnetic foreign bodies in a 2-year-old child

Abstract

EDITORIAL COMMENT. Gripped aggressive foreign bodies (magnetic balls) in the gastrointestinal tract require emergency actions to clarify their localization and to remove them. The conservative approach with four-day observation described in the article should not be used.Introduction. Internal fistulas in foreign bodies of the digestive tract is a very rare complication.This publication is aimed to describe a rare case of fistula formation between the vermiform process and the ileum caused by magnetic foreign bodies.Clinical observation. As his parents said, a 2-year-old child swallowed magnetic balls; no clinical manifestations were noted. Plain radiography 3 days after the ingestion revealed foreign bodies (3) in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. No foreign bodies were found on colonoscopy. Laparoscopy revealed a fistula between the appendix and the terminal ileum. The following steps were made: disconnection of fistula, appendectomy, suturing of fistula opening in the ileum.Conclusion. One of the complications after swallowing magnetic foreign bodies may be formation of internal intestinal fistulas. In our observation, the fistula was between the appendix and the ileum. No similar observations were found in literature.