Fishbone Foreign Body Ingestion With Gastric Impaction and Intestinal Micro-perforation in an Adult Female: A Case Report.

Foreign body ingestion of fishbones is a very common complaint where most foreign bodies travel safely through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) without any serious complications. However, its clinical presentation is nonspecific, and its clinical severity can vary widely, thus requiring the use of conservative and or invasive treatment modalities. In this case report, we present a case of a 42-year-old female who reported eating fish two days prior to presenting with upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) foreign body impaction in addition to a lower GIT micro-perforation secondary to fishbone ingestion, both of which were successfully managed with conservative, nonsurgical treatment modalities. Impaction, perforation, or obstruction of fishbone foreign bodies often occur at GIT angulations or narrowing. Clinical diagnosis of foreign body ingestion requires the use of multiple modalities such as a detailed history, physical exam, radiographic evaluation, and endoscopic evaluation as needed. Treatment depends on multiple factors and can be conservative or surgical in nature. Fishbone foreign body ingestion is a common complaint and rarely leads to severe complications. However, its diagnosis can be difficult without an explicit history highlighting ingestion of fishbones and requires the use of appropriate imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) scans. Subsequent management may require conservative or invasive treatment modalities based on the location of the fishbone, and the presence or absence of accompanying complications such as peritoneal signs, sepsis, and radiographic identification of bowel perforation.