Laparoscopic removal of intragastric foreign bodies

Ingestion of foreign bodies is a common happening for prison inmates. When such bodies do not pass, endoscopic or surgical retrieval is necessary. The authors report the case of a young patient in whom endoscopy failed to ret rieve several intragastric foreign bodies. He was treated successfully by l aparoscopic gastrotomy. The authors think that this approach is a valid alt ernative to laparotomy.