Needle Perforation of the Appendix

Vol. 17, No. 4, 2000

Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 109 KB)

Case Reports

Needle Perforation of the Appendix
Karl Renner, Brigitte Holzer, Gerhard Hochwarter, Erhard Weihsbeck, Rudolf Schiessel

Department of Surgery, Danube Hospital/SMZ-Ost, Vienna, Austria

Address of Corresponding Author

Dig Surg 2000;17:413-414 (DOI: 10.1159/000018891)

Key Words

Appendicitis
Perforation
Needle
Foreign body

Abstract

Background/Aims: Needles are among the most frequently swallowed foreign bodies. In most cases they are excreted per vias naturales, but in some cases needles can lead to perforation of the stomach or duodenum in adults. Methods: We report a case of acute appendicitis after perforation of the appendix by a swallowed needle. An appendectomy was performed without any knowledge of the reason for perforation. Results: Inspection of the resected appendix demonstrated a needle of 1.5 cm length inside the lumen of the appendix, which had caused a perforation of the distal end of the appendix. Conclusion: As seen in this case a longer-lasting nondiagnosed perforation can lead to extensive local inflammation which could have been avoided by early surgical treatment which should also be considered if the patient has very few symptoms, as in this case.

Author Contacts

Dr. Karl Renner
Danube Hospital/SMZ-Ost, Chirurgische Abteilung
Langobardenstrasse 122, A-1220 Vienna (Austria)
Tel. +43 1 288 02 3302, Fax +43 1 288 02 3380
E-Mail karl.renner@smz.magwien.gv.at

Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 2
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 16

Medline Abstract (ID 11053955)

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