FOREIGN BODIES OF THE RECTUM: A SURGICAL
AND PSYCHIATRIC ISSUE
Ir. Christodoulou, D.Babalis, C.Pogonidis, E.Xenodoxidou,
D.Gymnopoulos
SISMANOGLIO HOSPITAL, KOMOTINI, THRACE, GREECE
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BACKGROUND
The extraction of colorectal foreign bodies is
apparently a surgical issue. However, the
psychological background of people with
foreign bodies of the rectum reveals the need
for support by psychiatrists, psychologists and
social services.
MATERIALS –METHODS
During the period 1990-2005, there have been
admitted 3 men with retained colorectal foreign
bodies. The age of the patients was 34, 58 and
73 years old and the foreign bodies were a cup,
a cap of an aerosol can and a wooden part of a
chair arm respectively. Although the use of
these foreign bodies is usually for anal
autoeroticism, two of the patients reported that
the object was put there by their erotic partner
and the old man did not give any explanation.
Information regarding the foreign body was
taken at the Emergencies and the patients were
told to refer to a surgeon.
RESULTS
The extraction was made transanally in all
cases. The 34 year old and the 58 year old man
left the Hospital during the admission day. Only
the 58 year old man reported that he was
married and his wife accompanied him. The
73-year-old man stayed one more day and
seemed obviously embarrassed during the
round of the Surgical Department. He did not
talk to other patients, he accepted a psychiatric
examination and medication was recommended
DISCUSSION
Interviewing people with foreign bodies of the
rectum is a very difficult mission for the
surgeon. History of the incident is very
important because some foreign bodies are not
visible via X-Rays. Thus in order to help these
people and avoid an unnecessary laparotomy
the surgeon should be a very sensitive
interviewer and succeed to have a good
description of the retained foreign body.