What if a 14-year-old has a retained foreign body, specifically a coin, in the right iliac fossa for 4 days that was not visualized on colonoscopy?

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Last updated: February 11, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Research

Retained Foreign Body in the Right Iliac Fossa

  • A 14-year-old with a retained foreign body, specifically a coin, in the right iliac fossa for 4 days that was not visualized on colonoscopy poses a challenging situation.
  • According to 1, the management of foreign body ingestions varies based on the object ingested, its location, and the patient's age and size.
  • Ingested objects with a diameter less than 2.5 cm and length less than 6 cm can pass through the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously in less than one week, as stated in 2.
  • However, if the foreign body is lodged in the appendix, as suggested by the location in the right iliac fossa, it may require surgical intervention, as seen in 2 and 3.

Possible Complications

  • Foreign bodies that cause appendicitis are rare, but they may become lodged at any site of the gastrointestinal tract and cause inflammation or perforation, as reported in 3.
  • Ingested foreign bodies can also cause other complications, such as abdominal wall abscess, as seen in 4.
  • The entry of foreign objects into the appendix is thought to be due to relative low motility of the caecum, the dependent position of the appendix, and the size of the appendiceal orifice, as explained in 2.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches

  • Diagnostic laparoscopy with intraoperative image intensification can confirm the presence of a foreign body in the appendix, as shown in 2.
  • Appendicectomy can be performed to facilitate the removal of the foreign body, as seen in 2 and 3.
  • C-arm can be used to aid in the retrieval of foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract, as reported in 5.

References

Research

Pediatric foreign bodies and their management.

Current gastroenterology reports, 2005

Research

Ingested razor blades within the appendix: A rare case report.

International journal of surgery case reports, 2018

Research

Foreign Body Removal from Stomach: An Innovative Approach Using C-arm in ENT.

Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India, 2023

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.