An unintentional ingestion of a toothpick: a case report

Accidental finding of a toothpick in the porta hepatis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report

Introduction

Unintentional ingestion of a toothpick is not an uncommon event. Often the ingested toothpicks spontaneously pass through the gut without sequelae. However, serious complications can happen when these sharp objects migrate through the gastrointestinal wall.

Case presentation

In the current report, we describe the case of a 37-year-old Caucasian woman with an incidental finding of a toothpick in the porta hepatis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gall stones.

Conclusion

Toothpick ingestion is not an uncommon event and can predispose patients to serious complications. In this particular case, the toothpick was only discovered at the time of unrelated surgery. Therefore, it was important during surgery to exclude any related or missed injury to the adjacent structures by this sharp object.

Esophageal large fish bone (sea bream jawbone) impaction successfully managed with endoscopy and safely excreted through the intestinal tract

A 68-year-old man consulted our hospital because of back pain. A chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a high-density foreign body in the esophageal wall. There was no evidence of pneumomediastinum. Endoscopic examination demonstrated a large fish bone that was stuck in the esophageal wall. It was dislodged and moved into the stomach. The bone was excreted through the intestinal tract on the seventh hospital day. Unintentional ingestion of large fish bones must be considered potentially dangerous. Complications such as esophageal perforation or mediastinitis should be confirmed by CT; and then, the esophageal foreign body should be removed as soon as possible.

Gastric penetration by an ingested toothpick successfully managed with computed tomography and endoscopy

A 31-year-old woman who had ingested a toothpick consulted our hospital because of epigastralgia. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a toothpick penetrating the gastric wall. Endoscopic examination demonstrated an ingested toothpick protruding from the prepyloric antrum. The whole toothpick was removed using a basket catheter without complications. CT images were useful to acquire clinical information such as location of the toothpick end. Unintentional ingestion of toothpicks must be considered potentially dangerous. The locations of both ends of the toothpick should be confirmed by CT or ultrasonography; and then, the toothpick should be removed as soon as possible.