Lower left lung abscess from combined stomach and left diaphragm perforation by an intragastric foreign body

Background: Usually children mistakenly swallow foreign bodies, and most objects are spontaneously discharged through the digestive tract without consequence. However, sometimes the objects can cause gastrointestinal perforation, with serious complications.

Objective: To report the case of a 26-year-old male patient, who mistakenly swallowed a bamboo chopstick 14 years ago. The chopstick eventually perforated the gastric fundus and left diaphragm, pierced the lower left lobe of the lung, and caused a lower left lung abscess.

Method: A thoracotomy was conducted to remove the foreign body and the lower left lobe of the lung, followed by a patch fundoplication.

Result: The object was removed and the patient’s lesions healed after surgery.

Conclusion: The ingestion of foreign bodies rarely causes serious problems, but we should be vigilant to the occurrence of complications, and close follow-up should be conducted. This follow-up should include confirmation that the foreign body has passed through the alimentary tract.