Citation

James AH, Allen-Mersh TG. J. R. Soc. Med. 1982; 75(2): 107-110.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, Royal Society of Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7069668

PMCID

PMC1437284

Abstract

Repeated swallowing of foreign bodies, in adults, is part of a syndrome comprising personality disorder, drug overdose, and other self-inflicted injuries. The management should be conservative, as in many cases the foreign body will pass naturally or can be left in the bowel, if necessary for several years. Surgical intervention should be reserved for the complications of perforation, severe haemorrhage and persistent complete bowel obstruction, or for the removal of a toxic substance from the bowel. Five cases are reported which illustrate the natural history and management of the problem.

Language: en