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Small bowel perforation due to ingested chicken bone

Case contributed by Faeze Salahshour
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Abdominal pain, distension, and obstructive symptoms.

Patient Data

Age: 65 years
Gender: Female

Evidence of small bowel obstruction with a transition point at the mid-ileum. On scrutinized review, a dense linear intra-luminal foreign body is seen within the dilated ileal loop in the RLQ, proximal to the transition point. The foreign body penetrates the bowel wall, with a part in the adjacent mesentery. Few extraluminal air bubbles and mesenteric fat haziness visible around the penetrating foreign body. Mild free fluid is visible.

The yellow arrow points to the extra-luminal part of the foreign body and air bubble in the ileal mesentery.

Case Discussion

The patient underwent laparotomy and a chicken bone penetrating the ileum with mesenteric inflammation was found.

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