Ugeskrift for laeger
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Dec 2007
Case Reports[Perforation of the intestine after ingestion of magnetic items].
The ingestion of magnetic items is a potentially dangerous condition which may result in local necrosis and perforation of the intestine due to incrustation of the bowel wall between two magnetic bodies. We report a case of a 12-year old girl who ingested several magnetic items, causing perforation of the small intestine. We recommend surgical removal if more than one magnetic foreign body is ingested. If imaging results indicate that only one magnet has been ingested, we recommend a control x-ray within a few hours to confirm a secure passage of the foreign body.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Dec 2007
Case Reports[Multiple bowel perforations after swallowing magnetic toys].
Ingestion of small foreign bodies is common in children, and usually does not cause any harm to the gastrointestinal tract. But ingestion of multiple magnets can be hazardous because of the strong attraction of the magnets through the bowel wall, which may lead to bowel wall necrosis and perforation. We describe the case of a 6-year-old autistic boy who swallowed 4 magnets which led to bowel obstruction and 8 small perforations. It is important to be aware of this potential risk if children ingest small magnetic toys.
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Two cases of bowel perforation after ingestion of two or more magnetic foreign bodies by children are described. Both patients had only minor gastrointestinal symptoms when submitted to hospital. ⋯ The literature describes no consensus to surgical strategy in such cases. Based on the present cases, our recommendation is that an acute abdominal x-ray should be made, followed by either an acute endoscopy or acute laparatomy, even if the patient shows no signs of gastrointestinal symptoms.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Nov 2007
Review[Pre-, peri- and postoperative prevention of wound infections].
Many factors related to the patient, surgical techniques and perioperative hygiene are decisive for the development of postoperative wound infections. The present paper describes some of the most important factors and tries on basis of the present literature to evaluate the evidence of these factors.