Metallic foreign body in the appendix of 3-year-old boy

Abstract

Foreign body-induced appendicitis is a rare but well-known entity. This condition was discovered during the first appendectomy performed almost 275 years ago. For the pediatric surgeon, evaluation of a patient for swallowed foreign bodies is common, and most foreign bodies traverse the gastrointestinal tract without incident. However, when the foreign body becomes incarcerated in the appendix, a prophylactic appendectomy is recommended to prevent appendicitis. We present the case of an asymptomatic 3-year-old boy with a metallic foreign body lodged in the appendix that was treated with a fluoroscopically assisted laparoscopic appendectomy and discuss treatment of sharp vs blunt foreign bodies of the appendix.