Covered Perforation of the Ileum Caused by an Ingested Blister Pill Pack – A Rare Sonographic Diagnosis

Introduction

Foreign body ingestion is a common occurrence. The majority of patients are children between the age of six months and six years. In adults, the ingestion of foreign bodies happens mostly during food intake. In the majority of cases the objects pass the bowels without any complications. Less than 1 percent result in perforation or hemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical management depends on the patient‘s symptoms, as well as the shape and location of the foreign body. Around 20 percent of patients require endoscopic removal and less than 1 percent need to undergo surgical intervention (Ambe P et al: Swallowed foreign bodies in adults. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2012; 109: 869−875).

Publication History

Article published online:
23 March 2020