Liver Injury Caused by a Swallowed Foreign Body in a Patient with Schizophrenia

2016 Journal of Clinical and Analytical Medicine  
Although foreign bodies ingestion occurs commonly in children, it is also seen in adults with several associated factors, such as alcohol consumption, psychiatric disorders, and mental retardation [1] . Most of the ingested foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract without any problem. However, GI perforation may develop in less than 1% of these patients [2] . Furthermore, penetration of the foreign body from GI tract to the liver is a rare entity, and only few single cases
more » ... e been reported in the literature [3] . A 45-year-old male patient presented to emergency room with acute abdomen findings. He had a diagnosis of schizophrenia for more than 20 years. At admission, his vital signs were normal, but more than one foreign bodies located at the middle and right upper quadrants were seen at abdominal X-ray (Figure 1) . Computed tomography revealed a giant subcapsular hepatic hematoma, 10×5 cm in size, caused by a foreign body, resembling a spoon or knife, between stomach and the left lobe of liver (Figure 2A, B) . There was not another organ injury. An emergent operation was planned, but the patient left the hospital without notice. Penetration of an upper GI foreign body to the abdominal organs such as liver is an extremely rare life-threatening condition, and should be kept in mind especially in patients with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
doi:10.4328/jcam.3827 fatcat:pn4oljibgfdi7pjwkxjrcysqwu