DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Journey of a Swallowed Toothbrush to the Colon

  • Kim, In-Hee (Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School) ;
  • Kim, Hyun-Chul (Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School) ;
  • Koh, Kang-Hun (Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School) ;
  • Kim, Seong-Hun (Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School) ;
  • Kim, Sang-Wook (Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School) ;
  • Lee, Seung-Ok (Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School) ;
  • Lee, Soo-Teik (Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School)
  • Published : 20070600

Abstract

Toothbrush swallowing is a rare event. Because no cases of spontaneous passage have been reported, prompt removal is recommended to prevent the development of complications. Most swallowed toothbrushes have been found in the esophagus or the stomach of affected patients, and there has been no previously reported case of a toothbrush in the colon. Here, we report a case of a swallowed toothbrush found in the ascending colon that caused a fistula between the right colon and the liver, with a complicating small hepatic abscess. This patient was successfully managed using exploratory laparotomy. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a swallowed toothbrush found in the colon.

Keywords

References

  1. Ginsberg GG. Management of ingested foreign objects and food bolus impactions. Gastrointest Endosc 41:33-38, 1995 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5107(95)70273-3
  2. Faust J, Schreiner O. A swallowed toothbrush. Lancet 357:1012, 2001
  3. Kirk AD, Bowers BA, Moylan JA, Meyers WC. Toothbrush swallowing. Arch Surg 123:382-384, 1988 https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1988.01400270122020
  4. Riddlesberger MM Jr, Cohen HL, Glick PL. The swallowed toothbrush: a radiographic clue of bulimia. Pediatr Radiol 21:262-264, 1991 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02018618
  5. Ertan A, Kedia SM, Agrawal NM, Akdamar K. Endoscopic removal of a toothbrush. Gastrointest Endosc 29:144-145, 1983 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5107(83)72564-2
  6. Wilcox DT, Karamanoukian HL, Glick PL. Toothbrush ingestion by blumics may require laparotomy. J Pediatr Surg 29:1596, 1994
  7. Wishner JD, Rogers AM. Laparoscopic removal of a swallowed toothbrush. Surg Endosc 11:472-473, 1997 https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649900393
  8. Selivanov V, Sheldon GF, Cello JP, Crass RA. Management of foreign ingestion. Ann Surg 199:187-191, 1984 https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-198402000-00010