Tale of Money, Magnet and Intestine

India

healthysoch

New Delhi, March 01, 2024:

A 26 year old young patient came to emergency of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital with repeated vomiting and pain abdomen of more than 20 days. He was not able to eat anything . He was attended by the senior consultant Dr Tarun Mittal in opd. The patients relatives gave history of eating of coins and magnets by the patient for past few weeks. Patient is a known case of psychiatric illness and was on treatment for same
Relatives had a xray abdomen with them which showed radio opaque shadows in abdomen with the shape of coins and magnets.
He underwent Ct scan of the abdomen which showed huge load of coins and magnet causing blockage of the intestine. Patient was immediately prepared for the surgery. During surgery it was found the magnets and coins were present in the small intestine in two different loops. The magnetic effect pulled the two loops together and have eroded it.
The intestines were opened and coins and magnets were taken out.

Both the loops were rejoined by two different anastomosis(image4) Stomach was inspected and huge load of coins and magnets were found there also. Stomach was opened up and all the coins were extracted and stomach was repaired.
A Total of 39 coins (Rs1, 2 ,5 coins) and 37 magnets (heart, spherical, star , bullet and traingle shapes) were there.

We took operative x ray of the pt which showed all foreign bodies have been removed. Patient tolerated the procedure well and was discharged in healthy condition after seven days.

On probing him he told that he had ingested this as he thought that zinc helps in building body. The coins contain zinc and he ingested magnet so that the coin stay in the intestine and there is more absorption of zinc.
This is to inform general public that ingestion of these foreign bodies can be life threatening and should not be done.

Team of Doctors included : Dr Tarun Mittal, Dr Ashish Dey and Dr Anmol Ahuja( Consultants); Dr Vikram Singh (Clinical Assistant); Dr Tanushree and Dr Karthik (Residents ) who manged this case.

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