Der interessante Fall Nr. 69

Abstract

This report presents the case of a 28-year-old patient who was referred to our department for having swallowed a metallic foreign body accidentally. Initial X-ray investigation showed a bent needle, localized in the upper esophagus. While removal of the object in question was being planned, we just in time got information concerning the patient's far-reaching psychiatric history. By interviewing him again it turned out that he had been swallowing multiple bent pins intending to commit suicide. Abdominal X-ray demonstrated at least 12 bent metallic pins in different segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Subsequently the young man was admitted to the local psychiatry department. All foreign bodies were excreted per vias naturales within a few days. This case shows that the ingestion of "atypical" foreign bodies needs very careful anamnesis. The patients' psychiatric background and past history should always be taken into consideration.