Small Bowel Perforation Secondary to Blister Pill Pack Ingestion: A Case Report

We present a case of accidental ingestion of a foreign body-blister pill pack (FB-BPP) causing small bowel perforation in a patient taking aspirin and clopidogrel due to past history of coronary artery disease. A 71-year-old male presented in the emergency department (ED) with a two-day history of abdominal discomfort and loss of consciousness. His relevant home medication included aspirin and clopidogrel secondary to a history of coronary artery stents. Initial workup with emergent CT scan of abdomen/pelvis with intravenous contrast showed a loop of the terminal ileum with thickened wall and perforation. Incidentally, he was also found to have type II myocardial infarction. Emergent laparoscopic ileocecectomy with primary anastomosis was done. The postoperative course was unremarkable. The pathology report of the small bowel was consistent with a FB-BPP associated perforation. FB-BPP ingestion with perforation is a rare occurrence. It occurs more often in the elderly with significant mortality. Our case of accidental ingestion of FB-BPP was confirmed retrospectively after histopathological evaluation, and complicated by type II myocardial infarction. Emergent laparoscopic bowel resection was done despite significant preoperative risks.