Adult Glass Ingestion: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

While foreign body ingestion occurs most often in children, adult ingestion has been reported. Most cases can be managed with close observation. Endoscopic and surgical retrieval are options when other management fails or complications arise. We present a case of a 31-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with hematemesis and abdominal pain. The patient had deliberately ingested broken glass. Psychiatric crisis precipitated the event and for this patient it was found to be a repetitive occurrence. This case report emphasizes the different management options and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in patients with underlying psychiatric pathology.




J Med Cases. 2013;4(8):552-554
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jmc1284w