Bowel perforation by crumpled paper in a patient presenting with acute abdominal pain

• Main Authors: Bakhshaeekia Alireza, Hosseini Seyed, Razmi Tannaz, Shamsaeefar Alireza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-01-01
• Series: The Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology
• Subjects: Acute appendicitis; foreign body; bowel perforation
• Online Access: http://www.saudijgastro.com/article.asp?issn=1319-3767;year=2009;volume=15;issue=1;spage=52;epage=54;aulast=Bakhshaeekia

Many of the abdominal foreign bodies are due to accidental ingestion. Our objective in this case report is to emphasize the importance of the enquiry about the foreign body in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain. According to our knowledge, this is the first report of bowel perforation caused by paper ingestion. A 14-year-old boy with abdominal pain underwent exploratory laparotomy and was found to have abdominal pus and ileal perforation. A crumpled paper was found at the site of perforation. Postoperative enquiry revealed that the patient had ingested 10 crumpled papers. We highlight that recording the history is an important aspect in the management of patients with acute abdominal pain and that foreign bodies should be included in its differential diagnosis.