Laparoscopic removal of an ingested fish bone from the head of the pancreas: case report and review of literature

Abstract

Most ingested foreign bodies pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract and only 1% of them can perforate or penetrate the wall of stomach and duodenum and migrate into organs, such as the liver and pancreas. We report herein the case of a 59-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with epigastric pain and fever. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a linear foreign body that perforate the posterior wall of the prepyloric region of the stomach. The foreign body was removed laparoscopically in one piece and was identified as a 3-cm-long fish bone. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged on the 4th postoperative day. Pancreatic foreign body is a rare entity and laparoscopic removal is warranted in majority of cases.