Colonoscopy-assisted removal of foreign body impaction at the rectosigmoid junction: a case and review of the literature

Introduction: Rectal foreign body embedded in the clinic is not common, patients due to a variety of reasons caused by different objects and appliances embedded in the rectum cannot be removed, although the clinical foreign body caused by perforation is relatively rare, but once such a symptom occurs, it will also pose a threat to the patient's life. This case show that we should accurately assess the patient's condition once a foreign body is embedded in the rectum, and select a timely and effective treatment plan to remove the foreign body. Method We analyzed the literature on the clinical signs and possible conditions in such cases and discussed the timeliness and rationality of the surgical and therapeutic options for this patient. Results The patient was a 54-year-old male who was hospitalized in our outpatient clinic on June 03, 2022 for a rectal foreign body that had been embedded for more than 1 day. The patient told us that he had used a glass electrode tube to assist in removing the foreign body one day earlier due to "prolapse of the anus", but the electrode tube was inadvertently inserted into the anus and could not be removed on his own. After completing the pre-surgical examination, the foreign body was dragged into the rectum with the assistance of colonoscopy, and the anus was dilated with comb-type pulling hook and anal fistula pulling hook to widen the anus and remove the foreign body, and then relieved the local symptoms of the anus with the Chinese medicine Gu's Surgical Therapy. Discussion Rectal foreign body implantation, although rare in clinical practice, should be treated in a multidisciplinary manner, considering the type of foreign body, its material, and the possible risks involved.