Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 7, 2013; 19(25): 4091-4093
Published online Jul 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i25.4091
Endoscopic retrieval of 28 foreign bodies in a 100-year-old female after attempted suicide
Quan-Peng Li, Xian-Xiu Ge, Guo-Zhong Ji, Zhi-Ning Fan, Fa-Ming Zhang, Yun Wang, Lin Miao
Quan-Peng Li, Xian-Xiu Ge, Guo-Zhong Ji, Zhi-Ning Fan, Fa-Ming Zhang, Yun Wang, Lin Miao, Institute of Digestive Endoscopy and Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Li QP and Ge XX contributed equally to this work; all the authors contributed to this article.
Correspondence to: Lin Miao, MD, Institute of Digestive Endoscopy and Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 121 Jiang Jia Yuan, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu Province, China. miaofrest@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-25-58509932 Fax:+86-25-58509931
Received: February 28, 2013
Revised: April 19, 2013
Accepted: May 17, 2013
Published online: July 7, 2013
Abstract

Foreign body ingestion is a common emergency situation in children with one or a few objects having been ingested. Here we report our experience using endoscopic retrieval in a female centenarian with dyspnea and foreign bodies in the esophagus. She attempted suicide by swallowing 26 coins and two other foreign bodies. A gastroscope was used to remove all foreign bodies in the lower esophagus. In total, 26 coins, one ferrous ring and one cylindrical plastic object were retrieved. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical report on retrieval of so many foreign bodies in a single case.

Keywords: Foreign body, Esophagus, Endoscopy, Coin, Gastroscope, Retrieval basket

Core tip: Foreign body ingestion is typically a childhood phenomenon, and generally involves one or a few objects. Here, we report our experience using emergency endoscopy in a centenarian with dyspnea who had swallowed 26 coins and other foreign bodies. Rescue measures were applied to maintain stable vital signs and airway patency, while an alligator forceps or basket was inserted through a flexible gastroscope to remove all foreign bodies. The objects removed from the patient included 26 coins, a ferrous ring, and a cylindrical plastic object.