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Case Reports
. 2010 Oct 12:2010:bcr0120102667.
doi: 10.1136/bcr.01.2010.2667.

The magnetism of surgery: small bowel obstruction in an 8-year-old boy

R Clarke  1 , T Everett, A Watts, T Qureshi
Affiliations
Case Reports

The magnetism of surgery: small bowel obstruction in an 8-year-old boy

R Clarke et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

An 8-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome presented with right-sided abdominal pain, which was consistent with a probable appendicitis, but revisiting the history with a high index of suspicion confirmed multiple foreign body ingestion to be the cause of his symptoms. An emergency laparotomy was performed. Multiple toy magnets and other metal objects were found, which were causing small bowel obstruction with interloop fistulation. Following removal and repair, the patient made an excellent recovery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Plain abdominal radiograph showing dilated small bowel loops and the presence of metallic foreign bodies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Laparotomy with distended small bowel and visible magnets causing small bowel fistulation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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