The authors report a case of unusual intestinal obstruction caused by intra-abdominal retained foreigh body.
The patient was a 31-year-old ROK marine corps captain who underwent laparotomy, tracheostomy and debridement due to multiple shrapnel wounds on neck, abdomen and lower extremities two months prior to the onset of intestinal obstruction, at 8th US Army Field Hospital in South Vietnam, and was evacuated to Chinhae Naval Hospital for further medical treatment.
Soon after evacuation, secondary sutures were performed on the shrapnel wounds. Three days after secondary sutures, patient suddenly developed severe abdominal pain, vomiting and marked abdominal distention after lunch. X-Ray film on abdomen showed a metallic shadow resembling a curved homostatic forceps in the abdominal cavity with distended small bowel loops without fluid level. Immediate laparotomy was performed and a large loop of small intestine herniated through a handle-hole of a 5½˝ curved hemostatic forceps was found.
Resection of the strangulated segment and end-to-end anastomosis were performed. Medical literatures on simila subjects were reviewed and the etiology of the disease was also briefly discussed.
|