A case was documented by a medical team affiliated with Tehran University in Iran, and the finding was published in the Journal of Visual Emergency Medicine (VJEM). The report details an unusual sequence of events surrounding a foreign object that had been introduced for reasons that remain unclear in the initial report, prompting a diagnostic and surgical response to a patient in acute distress.
Approximately two hours after a deodorant container was inserted into the rectum and could not be removed by the patient, the individual experienced severe abdominal pain that prompted a clinical evaluation. An initial assessment by a proctologist did not reveal any obvious trauma, bleeding, cutting, or other signs of a breach in the rectal wall, which can sometimes accompany the presence of a retained object. In a follow up, radiographic imaging was performed, and the resulting X-ray demonstrated that the object had migrated beyond the rectum and had entered the stomach, a finding that significantly changed the clinical management plan and raised concerns about potential perforation, obstruction, or other complications along the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical team responded quickly to this unexpected imaging result.
The patient was transported to the emergency department of Tehran University of Medical Sciences where a multidisciplinary surgical team prepared for urgent intervention. A midline abdominal incision was performed to access the abdominal cavity, and after careful exploration, the deodorant container was located and removed. Following the operation, the patient recovered under standard postoperative care, and he was deemed fit for discharge with stable vital signs and no immediate postoperative complications. He was discharged home the day after surgery, with recommendations for monitoring and follow-up care as advised by the surgical team. The case underscores the complexity that can accompany retained rectal foreign bodies and the importance of timely imaging to define the exact location and trajectory of the object, which in turn guides the most appropriate surgical strategy. The authors note that, in most instances, the introduction of a foreign body into the rectum carries significant risk for intestinal injury, perforation, infection, and systemic involvement, emphasizing the gravity of such cases and the potential for severe outcomes if treatment is delayed or if the object migrates in a manner that complicates clinical management [Citation: Journal of Visual Emergency Medicine].