An unusual and fatal case of upper gastrointestinal perforation and bleeding secondary to foreign body ingestion. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barranco, Rosario; Tacchella, Tiziana; Lo Pinto, Sara; Bonsignore, Alessandro; Ventura, Francesco
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic and legal medicine. Volume 41(2016)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 75
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Gastrointestinal bleeding -- Gastric perforation -- Foreign body reaction; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic sciences -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.04.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-928X

Abstract

Abstract: We report a fatal case of gastrointestinal perforation and hemorrhage secondary to the ingestion of a foreign body. While engaged in an amateur futsal competition, an apparently healthy young man suddenly collapsed and his respiration ceased. Autopsy revealed a 3-mm circular perforation on the gastric wall fundus with a significant amount of clotted blood within the gastric lumen. On inspection, a foreign body consisting of a bristle-like hair, later identified via electron microscopy to be a cat vibrissa, i.e. a whisker, was found along the perforation margin. Thus, the inadvertent ingestion of fine, sharp objects (even a cat whisker) can lead to gastric perforation and bleeding, which might prove fatal under given circumstances. Highlights: Foreign body ingestion. A fatal case of gastrointestinal bleeding. A single 3-mm circular perforation was found on the wall of the gastric fundus. The stomach revealed the presence of a significant amount of clotted blood.