Toothpick—a rare cause of bowel perforation: case report and literature review

Abstract

Bowel perforation is an emergency condition. Common causes of bowel perforation include infection, infarction, radiation enteritis, Crohn's disease, and cancer. Ingested foreign body causing bowel perforation is rare. Wooden toothpick-related injuries are uncommon. We report a case of ileal perforation caused by ingested wooden toothpick preoperatively diagnosed by ultrasound and computed tomography.

Exploring the uncommon: A case report on localized peritonitis caused by ingested toothpick

“…A radiopaque foreign body within the terminal ileum was revealed on CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. The patient subsequently underwent diagnostic laparoscopy which was later converted to open laparotomy due to dense adhesions which unveiled a wooden toothpick causing ileal perforation [ 2 ] After extraction of the toothpick, the affected portion of the small intestine was resected [ 2 ].…”

“…Acute abdomen, a condition responsible for a significant portion of emergency admissions to surgical facilities, often originates from gastrointestinal perforations [ 1 ]. Bowel perforation is a critical emergency, with underlying causes ranging from infections and infarctions to conditions like radiation enteritis, Crohn's disease, and cancer [ 2 ]. These perforations can sometimes be attributed to sharp and elongated objects, such as toothpicks, which tend to become lodged within the narrower segments of the small intestine [ 1 ].…”

“…While ingested foreign bodies causing bowel perforation are infrequent, cases involving wooden toothpicks are even more rare [ 2 ]. Here, we present the case of a 20-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with generalized abdominal pain.…”

Toothpick perforates small bowel-mimicking diverticulitis

“…FB ingestion is an emergency condition that requires prompt attention. The most affected populations are the pediatric, geriatric, alcoholic, psychiatric, and patients with dentures [ 1 , 2 ]. Types of FBs that could cause digestive tract injury due to their sharp ends include numerous types such as; fishbone, chicken bone, toothpick, Jujube pit, etc.…”

A Case Report of an Atypical but Important Potential Cause for Pain in the Right Iliac Fossa: Toothpick Perforation.

“…These factors encompass male gender, extreme age (either very young or advanced age), presence of dementia or mental health disorders, utilization of dentures, and consumption of alcohol [1][2][3]. The majority of instances involve the uneventful passage of foreign objects through the human body, typically devoid of any consequential complications [4,5]. Nevertheless, toothpicks possess the potential to induce grave complications, such as perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in obstructions, hemorrhaging, formation of aberrant organ connections, and even the onset of infections [2].…”