Citation

Abdul Salam Yaseen T, Wadah Mahdi AB. Iraqi Postgrad. Med. J. 2010; 9(4): 463-465.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Ingestion of sharp foreign bodies is a serious accident. Perforation of oesophagus or other parts of the digestive tract can follow with a high morbidity and mortality unless early diagnosis and timely proper treatment is provided. To draw the attention to the problem of multiplicity of swallowed foreign bodies with its attendant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Herein, we report a case of 18-year newly married lady who attempted suicide by ingestion of seven razor blades. She had suffered perforation of the cervical oesophagus as well as impaction of the blades in the lower thoracic oesophagus and stomach. The perforated cervical oesophagus was repaired 7 hours after ingestion while the impacted gastric and thoracic oesophageal blades were removed after 12 hours and 47 days respectively. The patient ultimately survived. Multiple sharp foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract is a serious problem which presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The routine and early use of lateral chest and abdominal X-ray in suspected cases is recommended

Language: en