'Bit' Off More Than He Could Chew: Asymptomatic Foreign Body in the Appendix
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-7-2024
Publication Title
Journal of Surgical Case Reports
Abstract
This report details the case of a 69-year-old male who had presented to the emergency department at the suggestion of his dentist after ingesting a diamond-tipped drill bit during a routine dental procedure. Through the use of radiograph, computed tomography, and colonoscopy, the drill bit was determined to be lodged in the distal vermiform appendix. Throughout his clinical course, the patient remained asymptomatic but was monitored closely for signs of complications of a retained foreign body in the appendix. Gastroenterology and general surgery were consulted on the case but ultimately non-surgical approaches prevailed and the drill bit passed in the stool. This patient's case highlights the success of noninvasive measures for appendiceal foreign body removal.
Volume
2024
Issue
3
First Page
rjae109
Recommended Citation
Waarala ZMS, Santucci C, Sandberg JH. 'Bit' off more than he could chew: asymptomatic foreign body in the appendix. J Surg Case Rep. 2024 Mar 7;2024(3):rjae109. doi:10.1093/jscr/rjae109. PMID: 38463744.
DOI
10.1093/jscr/rjae109
ISSN
2042-8812
PubMed ID
38463744