DEFINITION : In the field of medicine, a foreign body, sometimes known as FB (Latin: corpus
alienum), is any object in the body of organism that originating outside the body of an organism
Some examples of corpal in rectum
Etiology
1.Erotic activity: usually vibrator, bottle, light bulb, candle, and any other objects
2.Concealment : criminals & psychiatric
3. Older patient: prostate massage and break up fecal impaction
4. Swallowed by mouth ;usually popcorn, toothpick, sunflower seed
5. Child Abuse; usually blunt object
Classification of rectal foreign body
Relative to rectosigmoid junction
1. High-lying
High lying
◦ above the sacral curve and rectosigmoid junction Low lying
◦ difficult to visualize and remove
◦ unreachable with rigid proctosigmoidoscopy.
2. Low –lying
◦ Below the rectosigmoid junction
◦ palpable on digital examination
◦ candidates for ED removal.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
• No reliable data on the frequency of rectal foreign bodies
•It is likely that the use of various objects for anal eroticism = incidence of retained
rectal foreign bodies
•The age distribution is bimodal, with peaks in the 20s (eroticism) and 60s (prostatic
massage)
•higher in males than in females: approximately 28:1
PRESENTATIONS
History :
◦ Patients are usually aware and often present requesting removal
◦ rectal pain or bleeding, pain with defecation, and, less often, abdominal pain
◦ May be too embarrassed to mention the foreign body but usually admit the etiology
◦ Ask for any instrumentation on FB; increases the risk of perforation or laceration
◦ The type of object -> fragile or sharp foreign bodies deserve special consideration.
◦ should be asked if it’s the result of assault ; serious injury is more likely
PRESENTATIONS
Physical exam :
◦ Fever or hypotension -> infection or bleeding
◦ Check for the presence of blood and the position of the foreign body with rectal toucher ; low lying can be palpated
◦ Rectal toucher should be deferred, especially in prisoners or psychiatric patients, until the location and
type of foreign body has been ascertained radiographically
◦ dangerous objects such as guns or sharp objects (eg, needles, razor blades) are inserted rectally to hide the
object or, to injure the examiner.
WORKUP
1. Laboratory studies
• Not add much useful in the acute presentation.
• hematocrit useful if bleeding is present.
• WBC count with differential in infection suspicion.
• operative candidates routine preoperative laboratory studies.
2. Radiography
• flat plate radiograph abdomen or pelvis identify and localize
• lateral pelvic film add information whether it’s high- or low-lying.
• upright chest radiograph if perforation is suspected.
• Computed tomography if perforation or abscess
TREATMENT
Approach consideration :
◦ Adequate analgesia and direct
visualization are critical to success.
Patient relaxation is key.
◦ hypotension caused by sepsis or
hemorrhage Fluid resuscitation
◦ If the patient is cooperative, manual
transabdominal attempt to
manipulate the foreign body into a
low-lying ED extraction can
be attempted.
TREATMENT - extractions
. •Adequate sedation ( mild sedative : midazolam)
•Analgesia ( morphine, hydromorphine, fentanyl)
•Insert lubricated anoscope/ proctoscope
Establish direct •Direct lighting
visualization •If cannot be visualized, apply gentle pressure on the lower abdomen move the foreign body into the field of vision
•carefully reexamine the rectum through the anoscope or proctoscope to detect any bleeding or tearing or to identify any additional foreign bodies.
•The sphincters should be assessed continence
•Discharge patients on oral analgesics, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or narcotic medications, as indicated. Antibiotics generally are not indicated in patients
evaluation discharged home from the ED.
Evacuation illustration
Anoscope/ speculum
TREATMENT – extractions cont.
Other extraction techniques that
have been described include
balloon extraction, in which
a pneumatic dilation balloon is
inserted distal to the foreign
body, inflated, and then
withdrawn, pulling the foreign
body out along with the inflated
balloon.
COMPLICATIONS
Delays in presentation and multiple attempts at self-removal lead to