Mechanical bowel obstruction caused by a foreign body (clam shell)

Case contributed by Domenico Nicoletti , 18 Oct 2020
Diagnosis certain
Changed by Mostafa Elfeky, 20 Oct 2020

Updates to Study Attributes

Findings was changed:

Rx abdomen

There are multiple dilated jejunal loops in the upper and middle abdomen. There is no air in the rectosigmoid. In the right iliac fossa there is a clam shell of about 2 cm.

Caption was added:
Abdomen

Updates to Study Attributes

Findings was changed:

CT abdomen with contrast

CT scan shows mechanical bowel obstruction caused by clam shell at the distal ileum with pneumoperitoneopneumoperitoneum and peritoneal effusion by bowel perforation. The small bowel feces sign and dilated proximal bowel loops are also identified. Left ovary enlarged.

Immediate laparotomy revealed the shell in the distal small bowel.

Caption was added:
Abdomen with contrast

Updates to Study Attributes

Findings was changed:

Operative report

Resection of the last ileal loop and cecum with ileo-colic isoperistaltic anastomosis.

Caption was added:
Operative report

Updates to Case Attributes

Body was changed:

Initial abdominal plain radiograph should be obtained when foreign body ingestion is suspected, which differentiates a radiopaque from radiolucent foreign bodies. A computedComputed tomography with 3D reconstruction (3D-CT) is recommended with radiolucent foreign bodies. PresenceThe presence of intestinal obstruction necessitates surgical intervention to extract the ingested foreign body.

  • -<p>Initial abdominal plain radiograph should be obtained when foreign body ingestion is suspected, which differentiates a radiopaque from radiolucent foreign bodies. A computed tomography with 3D reconstruction (3D-CT) is recommended with radiolucent foreign bodies. Presence of intestinal obstruction necessitates surgical intervention to extract the ingested foreign body.</p>
  • +<p>Initial abdominal plain radiograph should be obtained when foreign body ingestion is suspected, which differentiates a radiopaque from radiolucent foreign bodies. Computed tomography with 3D reconstruction (3D-CT) is recommended with radiolucent foreign bodies. The presence of intestinal obstruction necessitates surgical intervention to extract the ingested foreign body.</p>

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