Pediatric emergencies know the problem well: a child who ingests a foreign body (button, toy, coin, etc.) is an unfortunately current domestic accident. But in some cases, the gesture can be fatal. The case of a young Chinese today published in the review Medicine is one of them. The teenager would have swallowed no less than 6 razor blades. Each having the power to kill it.
Six blades in the body, a rare clinical case
The story takes place in the province of Sichuan where a 14 -year -old teenager presents himself in the emergency room. The cause is simple: it suffers from abdominal pain, but quickly admits having swallowed six razor blades. The examinations confirm its words: 6 characteristic metal objects stand well in its stomach, its duodenum and its intestine.
Doctors manage to remove a blade by fibroscopy. But unfortunately, the other 5 are out of reach. The gastroenterologists’ team has no choice but to monitor the patient. This is therefore hospitalized for several days and receives enements and paraffin oil in order to facilitate evacuation. Surprise ! The technique works smoothly. The five blades cross the intestine without incident, to be expelled naturally.
© Medicine.
Sensitive blades, abstain
It is useful to recall here that this young girl, whose exact motivations we do not know, was very lucky. According to Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of True Medical, the blades can cause “Perforations of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, intestines), causing hemorrhages, infections, peritonitis, or even a death if medical care is not immediate”.
In case of perforation, symptoms such as intense abdominal pain, fever or blood vomiting (+/ – bloody stool) may appear.
The intervention must be fastest. “The procedure to follow? Is it emergencies and radiological examinations directly. And depending on the location and the number of blades, an endoscopy or even surgery. At least, close monitoring of the good” descent “of the blades” diagnostic our expert. According to the International Federation of Pediatric Gastroenterology Societies (JPGN Reports), these sharp objects should be removed in an emergency, within two to six hours. After this CAP, endoscopy is much less likely to succeed and surgery often becomes essential.
© Medicine
The sign of real distress
But the care cannot be limited to “technique”. Unlike children, who can ingest objects out of curiosity, the ingestion of a dangerous object by a teenager must also question his mental health. “”From a psychiatric point of view, this behavior is often a deep psychological distress or a psychiatric disorder, which requires psychological monitoring after medical care “ underlines Dr. Kierzek.
Do not cut to prevention
Our expert finally recalls, sharp objects can represent multiple dangers for our children, or young adolescents:
- Superficial or deep cuts to the hands, mouth, or face;
- Perforation of the digestive wall, which can cause hemorrhages or serious infection (peritonitis);
- Small if the object blocks the respiratory tract;
- Psychological distress or even trauma depending on the context of the accident.
In this context, prevention remains the key word to avoid the worst.
- Store all sharp objects (scissors, knives, blades, DIY tools) out of the reach of children, ideally in closed or height furniture;
- Never leave a young child unattended in a room where cutting objects are accessible;
- Ensure that toys do not have bright edges or easily detachable small parts;
- Sensitize children from an early age the dangers of sharp objects and explain to them why they should not play with it.
In the event of an injury, clean the wound with water, disinfect and consult the doctor if the cut is deep or if the child has swallowed an object.