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- Title
Pain in the Gut: An Intriguing Case of Toothpick Ingestion Causing Gastric Perforation.
- Authors
Bathobakae, Lefika; Mahmoud, Anas; Wilkinson, Tyler; Melki, Gabriel; Cavanagh, Yana; Siau, Keith
- Abstract
Toothpick ingestion is a medical emergency requiring urgent intervention. Swallowed toothpicks can cause intestinal perforation, bleeding, or damage to the surrounding organs. Herein, we describe a unique case of a geriatric patient with a history of peptic ulcer disease who presented to the emergency department for the evaluation of abdominal pain and nausea. Gastric wall thickening concerning for a gastric neoplasm was observed on a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed an embedded toothpick with a contained gastric perforation, and the foreign body was retrieved with a grasper device. Given the rare presentation, nonspecific symptoms, inability to recall, and often inconclusive imaging, a high index of suspicion is needed for early diagnosis and treatment of toothpick ingestion.
- Publication
Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports, 2023, p1
- ISSN
2324-7096
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/23247096231211056