Where can linear foreign bodies be found in the body?
The string may cut through the frenulum of the tongue and bury itself in soft tissues, so the tongue should be lifted and the underside inspected carefully. It is also possible for linear foreign bodies to lodge in the esophagus, and a thoracic radiograph should be taken if this is suspected.
How are foreign bodies propelled through the intestine?
String, cords, fabric and tape are capable of passing through the gastrointestinal tract uneventfully, but create problems when one end becomes lodged and the remainder of the foreign body is propelled along the intestine by peristalsis. Because the tethered string cannot be expelled, the intestine telescopes orally and becomes plicated.
Can a linear foreign body be extracted by pulling on one end?
Due to the plication of the intestines, it is not possible to simply extract the string by pulling on one end, as that tightens it further and exacerbates the risk of intestinal perforation.
Are there linear foreign bodies in the esophagus?
It is also possible for linear foreign bodies to lodge in the esophagus, and a thoracic radiograph should be taken if this is suspected. However, most linear foreign bodies bunch up and lodge at the level of the pylorus. Figure 1. Small intestinal plication in a dog.
Can a linear intestinal foreign body be life threatening?
Linear intestinal foreign bodies can be serious and even life threatening. Besides causing intestinal inflammation and obstruction they can also cause multiple perforations at the mesenteric aspect of the bowel.
How are foreign objects held up in the small intestine?
Most foreign objects that have passed into the small intestine usually traverse the GI tract without problem, even if they take weeks to do so. They tend to be held up around the curvature of the first part of the duodenum (duodenal sweep) and by the area of physiologic narrowing before the ileocecal valve.
When is a foreign body a linear structure?
As if all this wasn’t bad enough, there is an especially bad foreign body situation when the foreign body is a string or similar linear structure. Common linear foreign bodies might include string or yarn (especially for kittens) or a towel or cloth leash where the fabric has not been completely chewed through and long threads are exposed.
Can a foreign body cut through the intestine?
This type of folding is called “plication” and is the hallmark of the linear foreign body. If the foreign body is not removed, the strings will cut through the intestine leading to life-threatening peritonitis.
