Liver abscess due to toothpick habit
Doctors performed an endoscopic resection of the left lobe of the liver to remove the foreign object, a bamboo toothpick, and treat the patient's abscess.
Mr. NTĐ, (77 years old, in Hanoi) was taken to the hospital by his family after experiencing a continuous fever accompanied by a dull, prolonged abdominal pain of unknown cause. At the hospital, doctors conducted a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition. The results of a computed tomography (CT) scan showed that the abscess in the left lobe of the liver had grown to over 10cm, with a foreign object stuck inside, which was the cause of the prolonged infection.
Dr. Nguyen Minh Trong, Director of the Center for Hepatobiliary and Digestive Surgery, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said: "After careful consideration, we decided to perform laparoscopic surgery to remove the left lobe of the liver to remove the foreign object and treat the abscess, preventing possible dangerous complications."
During the surgery, the doctors discovered a large abscess, more than 10cm in diameter, located in the left lobe of the liver and attached to the small curvature of the stomach. Inside, there was a bamboo toothpick about 5cm long that had penetrated deep into the liver parenchyma. Fortunately for the patient, the abscess was still localized in the liver and had not ruptured, which could have caused peritonitis, which could have been life-threatening. The doctors removed the left lobe of the liver along with the abscess and removed the foreign object. After the surgery, the patient was alert, stable, and recovered quickly.
It is known that the patient had a habit of holding a bamboo toothpick in his mouth after eating, even when going to bed. This caused him to accidentally swallow the toothpick without knowing it. Because the bamboo toothpick is small, sharp and hard, it can easily pierce the stomach wall, then move to the liver, small intestine or colon. If not detected promptly, this foreign object can cause serious damage, leading to prolonged inflammation and the formation of dangerous abscesses.
According to Dr. Dao Thi Hong Nhung, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, foreign bodies in the digestive tract are not common problems, especially cases where foreign bodies penetrate the liver. With foreign bodies such as bamboo toothpicks, abdominal X-rays are often of little value in diagnosis. In the case of patient D., ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan helped to accurately detect the location of the foreign body through increased echoes on ultrasound and increased density on CT scan.
To avoid the risk of swallowing foreign objects and unfortunate consequences, doctors recommend not to hold bamboo toothpicks in your mouth after eating, especially when lying down or sleeping... Chew thoroughly before swallowing, avoid laughing, talking, watching TV or using the phone while eating to reduce the risk of choking on foreign objects.
In case of suspected foreign body ingestion, absolutely do not poke your throat, as this may cause the foreign body to penetrate deeper into the mucosa or move to a dangerous location. Absolutely do not apply folk methods such as drinking vinegar or eating hot rice to try to push the foreign body down, as it may cause the foreign body to penetrate deeper and cause serious damage. If you have symptoms of prolonged abdominal pain and fever of unknown origin, you should go to a medical facility immediately for timely examination and treatment.
Children swallowing button batteries are at risk of esophageal perforation
Recently, the Gastroenterology Department, Hanoi Children's Hospital received and successfully performed emergency endoscopy on a patient VKV (4 years old, Hanoi) who swallowed a button battery.
A button battery stuck in a child's esophagus was promptly removed by endoscopy doctors.
Baby V's parents informed that their child accidentally swallowed a button battery, and the family quickly took the child to a nearby hospital. An X-ray revealed that the battery was stuck in the esophagus at the level of the collarbone, so they were transferred to Hanoi Children's Hospital. Realizing the level of danger, the patient was examined and immediately consulted by the Endoscopy - Anesthesia - Surgery team, who determined that the foreign object was dangerous and needed emergency endoscopy.
During the endoscopy, the doctors found that the esophagus around the battery was ulcerated, the upper and lower parts of the foreign object were swollen and narrowed the exit as well as the path to the stomach.
All attempts to remove the battery were difficult. The team used a flexible endoscope and a rigid endoscope with one hole to remove it, but both got stuck due to the narrow exit.
After 3 hours of effort, the team and Dr. Quach Van Nam (Digestive Department) successfully removed the foreign object without open surgery, helping the child avoid the risk of esophageal perforation and recover better after the intervention.
According to Dr. Nam, button batteries are not only a common foreign object but can also cause serious damage within the first few hours. Due to their corrosive properties and electric current mechanism, they will cause burns and ulcers leading to perforation very early, especially if the battery is large and stuck in the esophagus like this child patient.
Hanoi Children's Hospital recommends that parents be especially careful with these small but potentially dangerous objects. If you detect signs of your child swallowing a foreign object, contact the nearest medical facility immediately or take your child to Hanoi Children's Hospital for timely treatment.
Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tre-suyt-thung-thuc-quan-gia-ap-xe-gan-nguy-kich-vi-hoc-di-vat-19225031109185715.htm
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