Toothpick impaction in a sigmoid diverticulum

A case of a colonic foreign body imitating diverticulitis

We present a case of a 75-year-old male who was referred to an Emergency Department with possible diverticulitis. On further review of CT imaging, extensive sigmoid diverticulosis with mural thickening and inflammatory stranding was noted, with a linear dense foreign body present within the sigmoid lumen. The patient was managed with intravenous antibiotics and colonoscopic retrieval of the foreign body, which was lodged within a diverticulum. This case emphasizes the importance of early colonoscopic management of patients suspected to have a colonic foreign body. We then review the literature regarding colonic foreign bodies and the association with diverticulosis.

Foreign bodies in sigmoid colon diverticulosis

This review addresses the management of sigmoid colon diverticular disease associated with foreign bodies. In addition, two novel cases are presented. One case describes the management of diverticular bleeding secondary to a chicken bone and the other case reports retrieval of a retained EndoRings™ Device. The review identified 40 relevant publications including 50 subjects. Foreign bodies within sigmoid diverticular disease may be associated with inflammation, perforation, abscess and fistula. In current practice, diagnosis is often achieved with CT scan. Patients with colonic perforation or fistula generally require colonic resection. Patients with inflammation may merit conservative management, including colonoscopic foreign body retrieval. Chicken bones, tooth picks, and biliary stents have been reported in patients with inflammation, perforation and fistula, whereas all published patients with fish bone related diverticulosis complications experienced inflammation. Treatment might be best guided by the consequences of the foreign body rather than the nature of the underlying retained object. Diverticular bleeding secondary to a chicken bone was diagnosed at CT angiography and treated with colonoscopic snare retrieval of the bone and clipping of the bleeding diverticulum. The EndoRings™ Device was retrieved with a colonoscopic balloon.