Colorectal foreign bodies

Abstract

Colorectal foreign bodies can result from a variety of etiologies, the most common being insertion of foreign objects into the anus and rectum, which is a well-described phenomenon and can no longer be considered rare [1]. Lesions due to ingested bodies, however, are not common, and even rarer are migrations from the peritoneum, which have been reported on occasion. Management involves the safe retrieval of the offending object. It is essential to exclude associated colorectal injuries, which if left undetected may be lethal. Extraction can be difficult due to the size, shape, and migration of the foreign body [1]. Furthermore, the patient's imagination must be surpassed by the physician's ingeniousness to withdraw the various offending foreign bodies. Indeed, even in experienced hands, the treatment of patients with retained colorectal foreign bodies can be challenging [2]. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.