Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2014; 20(9): 2426-2428
Published online Mar 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2426
Intestinal obstruction due to migration of a thermometer from bladder to abdominal cavity: A case report
Jing Nie, Bo Zhang, Yan-Chao Duan, Yue-Hua Hu, Xin-Ying Gao, Jian Gong, Ming Cheng, Yan-Qing Li
Jing Nie, Bo Zhang, Yan-Qing Li, Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
Yan-Chao Duan, Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Taishan Medical University, Taian 271000, Shandong Province, China
Jing Nie, Yue-Hua Hu, Xin-Ying Gao, Jian Gong, Department of Gastroenterology, Taian Central Hospital, Taian 271000, Shandong Province, China
Bo Zhang, Department of Infections, Taian Central Hospital, Taian 271000, Shandong Province, China
Ming Cheng, Department of General Surgery, Taian Central Hospital, Taian 271000, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: Nie J and Zhang B contributed equally to this work; Nie J, Zhang B, Duan YC, Hu YH, Gao XY, Gong J, Cheng M and Li YQ collected the data and managed and reviewed the case; Nie J and Zhang B wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Yan-Qing Li, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. niejingjing2006@163.com
Telephone: +86-538-6298473 Fax: +86-538-8223227
Received: October 21, 2013
Revised: November 14, 2013
Accepted: January 8, 2014
Published online: March 7, 2014
Processing time: 136 Days and 3.8 Hours
Abstract

Intraperitoneal foreign bodies such as retained surgical instruments can cause intestinal obstruction. However, intestinal obstruction due to transmural migration of foreign bodies has rarely been reported. Here, we report a case of intestinal obstruction due to a clinical thermometer which migrated from the bladder into the abdominal cavity. A 45-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a one-year history of recurrent lower abdominal cramps. Two days before admission, the abdominal cramps aggravated. Intestinal obstruction was confirmed with upright abdominal radiography and computerized tomography scan which showed dilation of the small intestines and a thermometer in the abdominal cavity. Then laparotomy was performed. A scar was observed at the fundus of the bladder and a thermometer was adhering to the small bowels and mesentery which resulted in intestinal obstruction. Abdominal cramps were eliminated and defecation and flatus recovered soon after removal of the thermometer.

Keywords: Intestinal obstruction; Foreign body; Thermometer; Transmural migration; Bladder

Core tip: Intestinal obstruction due to transmural migration of foreign body is a rare condition. Here we report a case of intestinal obstruction due to transmural migration of a thermometer from the bladder to the abdominal cavity. The patient recovered soon after removal of the thermometer.