A Case of Needle Ingestion in a Female – Laparoscopic Retrieval

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of foreign bodies is an old medical problem of decreasing occurrence. Several cases have been reported in the medical literature, and the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches must be applied in a multi-faceted and differentiated manner. CASE REPORT: Our case concerns a 54-year-old female with accidental swallowing of a needle. We describe our diagnostic procedure with laparoscopic removal of the appendix due to fixation of the object in the right lower abdomen. DISCUSSION: The ingestion of foreign bodies is an old medical problem, although its incidence has decreased drastically due to changes in lifestyles. Today, it is rather the unusual cases and intentional ingestion that are in the forefront. Initial endoscopic treatment attempts are followed by the “wait-and-see” attitude in hopes of spontaneous passage that can be monitored via radiological methods. If the object does not pass naturally and is localized in the colon, what remains as a treatment option is endoscopy followed by surgery that can be performed in a minimally invasive manner.