A FOREIGN BODY IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE - INGESTED HARDWARE NAILS WITHIN THE APPENDIX

Objectives: We present the case of a 26-year-old patient who ingested over 30 hardware nails, each measuring 2.54 cm (1 inch) in length. The patient originally underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with attempted removal of the nails from the stomach and duodenum, though only three were able to be extracted. Without perforation to their gastrointestinal tract, they were able to excrete all but two of the nails that remained localized to the right lower quadrant. Laparoscopic exploration with fluoroscopic guidance was carried out to localize and remove the retained foreign bodies. They were found lodged within the appendix without evidence of appendicitis or perforation. The patient made an uneventful recovery after laparoscopic appendectomy and was discharged without subsequent complication.

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Results:

Conclusion: We report the unique case of 26-year-old patient who ingested multiple hardware nails, two of which were found to be lodged within the appendix on laparoscopic exploration with fluoroscopic guidance.