Intestinal Foreign Bodies

Question 1

What is an intestinal Foreign body?

Answer 1

Intestinal foreign bodies can be intraluminal (foreign body), extramural (intussusception) or intramural (tumour).

Question 2

Clinical Signs

Answer 2

vomiting, anorexia, dehydration, weight loss, loose or no faeces and abdominal pain

Question 3

What is intraluminal

Answer 3

Foreign body

Question 4

What is Extramural

Answer 4

Intussusception

Question 5

Intamural

Answer 5

Tumor

Question 6

Patient Prep

Answer 6

The patient is clipped from the xiphoid process to the pubis and the site prepared aseptically.

Question 7

Patient Positioning

Answer 7

The patient is placed in dorsal recumbency with the limbs secured with positioning aids.

Question 8

Instruments / Materials

Answer 8

Two sterile instrument kits are required. One kit is used to perform the gastrotomy and remove the foreign body, and the second set of sterile instruments are used to close the abdominal cavity to avoid contaminating the abdominal cavity.
A Balfour or Gosset retractor, laparotomy sponge’s lavage solution, and a suction apparatus are needed.

Question 9

Post op

Answer 9

The patient electrolyte and hydration status must be corrected. Post-operative complications include: necrosis, perforation, leakage and dehiscence. If perforation was to occur, the prognosis is guarded. If a straightforward enterotomy was performed then the prognosis is good; early treatment reflects a positive outcome.