The medical incident developed when the patient arrived at the hospital's emergency ward, complaining of persistent vomiting...
Digital Desk: In a bizarre incident at Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, doctors successfully performed surgery to extract 39 coins and 37 magnets from a 26-year-old man's intestine. The patient, suffering from a psychiatric illness, had swallowed these objects, believing that zinc, present in the coins, could aid in body-building.
The medical incident came to light when the patient arrived at the hospital's emergency ward, complaining of persistent vomiting and abdominal pain over more than 20 days. Unable to consume any food, the young man was initially examined by Dr Tarun Mittal, a senior consultant in the outpatient department. Family members revealed a history of the patient ingesting coins and magnets in the preceding weeks, a behavior associated with his psychiatric condition.
An x-ray of the abdomen revealed radio-opaque shadows resembling coins and magnets. A subsequent CT scan uncovered a significant accumulation of these objects, causing intestinal blockage. Swift action was taken, and the patient was promptly prepared for surgery.
The operation revealed an intricate scenario – coins and magnets lodged in two separate loops of the small intestine, pulled together by the magnetic force, resulting in erosion. The surgeons performed anastomoses to rejoin the loops, successfully extracting the foreign bodies. Notably, a substantial quantity of coins was also found in the stomach, necessitating further intervention.
In total, the medical team removed 39 coins of denominations ₹1, ₹2, and ₹5, along with 37 magnets of various shapes, including heart, spherical, star, bullet, and triangle. A post-surgery operative X-ray confirmed the successful removal of all foreign bodies. The patient recovered well and was discharged in healthy condition after seven days.
Upon further investigation, the patient revealed a misguided belief that ingesting zinc, found in the coins, would aid in body-building. He consumed the magnets to ensure the coins remained in the intestine, facilitating increased zinc absorption.
The multidisciplinary team at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, led by Dr Tarun Mittal and including Dr Ashish Dey, Dr Anmol Ahuja, Dr Vikram Singh, Dr Tanushree, and Dr Karthik, demonstrated their expertise in managing this unusual case. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the potential risks associated with misconceptions about unconventional methods of achieving physical well-being.
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