Small bowel perforation caused by a sharp bone: Laparoscopic diagnosis andtreatment

Small bowel perforation caused by sharp or pointed foreign bodies rarely is diagnosed preoperatively because clinical symptoms usually are nonspecific and can mimic other surgical conditions such as appendicitis and cecal div erticulitis. We report the case of a 57-year-old man who underwent diagnost ic laparoscopy for abdominal pain of unknown etiology. Swelling and erythem a were noted in a segment of small bowel in the right lower abdomen. A tiny sharp-pointed object was found penetrating the inflamed portion of the: bo wel, This foreign body was;removed and the perforation immediately repaired under laparoscopic guidance, The postoperative course was uneventful. We b elieve that in cases of lower abdominal pain with peritoneal irritation, la paroscopy can provide not only a wide field of examination to localize intr aabdominal pathology, but in some instances it can aid in case management.