ABSTRACT
Toothbrush ingestion is rare and most cases are seen in anorexic or bilumic young women or associated with mental retardation or schizophrenia. We report a case of accidental swallowing of a toothbrush in a man with no such background psychiatric disorder. The toothbrush was impacted in the duodenum and could not be removed endoscopically. It was removed via a laparotomy and the patient made an uneventful recovery. The pathophysiology, presentation and various techniques reported for endoscopic removal have been reviewed. If endoscopic removal is not possible the toothbrush must be removed by operation, as spontaneous passage is unknown.
Subject(s)
Foreign Bodies/surgery , Laparotomy , Adult , Fiji , Humans , Male , Toothbrushing/instrumentationABSTRACT
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is a safe option but expensive for Pacific countries. This paper reviewed the procedure and its complications and reflects on the experience of surgeons in Tonga. It concluded that this procedure is viable and desirable for patients in Tonga but suggests that the opportunity costs of the equipment should be considered in the light of many other competing health needs.
