A 26-year-old man presented at our emergency department with a history of severe pelvic
pain and bloating. The patient reported that he had inserted a large light bulb in
his rectum about 3 hours prior to presentation. On digital rectal examination, a foreign
body with an irregular surface was palpated. An X-ray image of the pelvic region revealed
a large light bulb in the rectum ([Fig. 1]). Attempted manual removal of the foreign body using suprapubic pressure failed.
Colonoscopy revealed that the bulb in the rectum was completely obstructing the lumen
([Fig. 2]). A polypectomy snare failed to remove it because of the bulb’s round, smooth surface.
The foreign body was completely removed without complication using a long Kocher clamp
under colonoscopic observation and thus avoiding surgery ([Fig. 3]). Control endoscopy showed only mild superficial scratches on the rectal mucosa.
Fig. 1 Pelvic X-ray of the foreign body in the rectum of a 26-year-old man who had reported
that he had inserted a large light bulb in his rectum about 3 hours prior to presentation.
Fig. 2 Endoscopic image of the foreign body in the rectum completely obstructing the lumen.
Fig. 3 The extracted rectal foreign body removed without complication.
Foreign bodies have generally been inserted in the rectum for sexual gratification
and are usually round and have a smooth surface [1]. It is difficult to remove these foreign bodies with standard endoscopic devices.
In such cases, a surgical Kocher clamp can be used in the treatment of large rectal
foreign bodies thus avoiding surgery [2].
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AQ_2AH
