Foreign body migration to the genitourinary tract

Unusual journey of migratory foreign bodies in the alimentary tract

Foreign bodies are uncommon, and the migration of ingested or inserted foreign bodies within or out of the gastrointestinal tract is even rarer. Migration of foreign objects from the digestive system to the soft tissue in the neck, genitourinary tract, or abdominal cavity to intraluminal extension in bowel loops is an uncommon but well-reported occurrence. The accidentally retained surgical sponge (gossypiboma) following abdominal or pelvic surgery with transmural migration within the bowel is an extremely rare clinical presentation. The bowel can be penetrated by retained material, which moves within the bowel lumen, resulting in malabsorption, intestinal obstruction, either partial or complete. In a few cases, spontaneous expulsion occurs. The interpretation is done on radiographs in frontal and lateral projections X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasonography (USG). Computed tomography (CT) is helpful if a radiopaque foreign body is suspected and is the modality of choice. We share with you 2 instances of foreign items migrating outside the digestive tract with a possible history of ingestion and a case of transmural migration of the postcesarean section retained surgical sponge within the alimentary tract, causing bowel obstruction. Diagnosis and the exact location of a foreign body can be established with the judicious use of different modalities. A CT scan is the modality of choice because it provides a road map for surgical intervention.

Retrieval of intrarenal coiled and ruptured guidewire by retrograde intrarenal surgery: A case report and literature review

Background

Foreign bodies in the kidney have rarely been reported. However, they can be a clinical problem for urologists. We report on a patient with a residual segment of guidewire coating embedded in the renal parenchyma following computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous nephrostomy drainage (PCND), and our successful minimally invasive management with retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS).

Case presentation

A 40-year-old female with urosepsis due to a right upper ureteral stone with hydronephrosis received emergent CT-guided PCND and subsequent ureteroscopic lithotripsy, double J stent insertion, and percutaneous catheter removal. Follow-up radiography showed a coiled object within the upper pole parenchyma of the right kidney, which might be the remnant of a guidewire used during the PCND procedure. Flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) was performed. Under fluoroscopy, the foreign body was localized, the renal parenchyma was incised with laser, and the foreign body was retrieved using a stone basket.

Conclusion

Although guidewire breakage is uncommon, clinicians should keep it in mind during interventional procedures. Several methods can be used to eradicate foreign objects from the urinary tract, and the first choice should always be the least invasive one. RIRS with fURS is considered as a safe, efficient, and minimally invasive option for the extraction of foreign bodies from the kidney. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive case report detailing the removal of a foreign object by RIRS in the English literature.