Patient N.T.D has a history of diabetes, high blood pressure and local anemia, and is currently being treated with drugs. About a month ago, he had a persistent fever and a persistent abdominal pain of unknown cause. The family took him to a medical facility for examination, then transferred him to the Center for Rhipidoplasty and Gastroenterology, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases for in-depth examination.
CT scan results showed that the patient's left liver borderline appeared to be more than 10 cm in the abscess, inside was a foreign object stuck - the cause of prolonged infection. After a comprehensive assessment, the doctors decided to undergo endoscopic surgery to remove the foreign object and treat the abscess, preventing dangerous complications.
During the surgery, the doctors discovered a large abscess attached to the small curved edge of the stomach. Inside was a bamboo toothpick about 5 cm long that had been deeply embedded in the liver tissue. Fortunately, the abscesses did not rupture to the abdomen, making the surgery more smooth. After removing the left liver thus and foreign objects, the patient recovered quickly and his health was stable.
Medical history shows that the patient has the habit of holding bamboo toothpick after eating, even while sleeping. He accidentally swallowed it without knowing it. Due to sharpness and stiffness, bamboo toothpick can penetrate the stomach, moving to the liver, small intestine or colon, causing serious damage and forming abscesses.
According to Dr. Dao Thi Hong Nhung - Department of Graphic Diagnosis, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a foreign object of the digestive tract that penetrates into the liver is a rare case. Abdominal X-rays are often not detectable, but ultrasounds and CT scans pinpoint the location of the foreign object accurately, helping doctors develop a suitable treatment plan.
If not intervened promptly, the patient can face many dangerous complications such as: The liver abs spread and burst into the abdomen, causing life-threatening peritoneal inflammation; Sepsis, especially dangerous in the elderly with underlying diseases; Jellybean or colon, leading to peritoneal inflammation and intestinal obstruction; impaired liver function, long-term health effects.
In addition to bamboo toothpick, foreign objects such as fish bones, chicken bones, nail marks or small pieces of metal can also cause serious consequences if not detected and treated early.
