REVIEW article
Front. Med.
Sec. Gastroenterology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1607262
Fishbone ingestion is a non-negligible cause of intestinal perforation
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- 2Academy of Ophthalmology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- 3The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
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Foreign body ingestion (FBI) is considered a widespread global health concern, with fishbone ingestion (FI) occurring frequently. However, fishbone-induced intestinal perforation (FIIP) remains rare and is frequently overlooked in the initial differential diagnosis. A case involving a 39-year-old patient presenting with acute abdominal pain was diagnosed as FIIP. Initial laparoscopic surgery was followed by a laparotomy for fishbone removal, resulting in a favorable patient recovery. The existing literature on FIIP is reviewed in this article. Reported cases underscore the necessity of prompt identification of the perforation’s cause and the critical role of thorough medical history-taking. Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography are considered essential diagnostic tools in confirming the condition. While ultrasonography serves as a rapid, non-invasive preliminary examination, CT is regarded as more accurate and comprehensive. In regions with high fish consumption, FIIP should be considered in adult patients, especially the elderly. Retained fishbones may result in serious complications and should be removed whenever feasible. Clinical education is considered vital in minimizing delays in diagnosis and treatment. The least invasive treatment strategy should be selected according to the patient’s clinical status.
Keywords: Foreign Bodies, Intestinal Perforation, diagnosis, Abdomen, acute
Received: 07 Apr 2025; Accepted: 28 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zuo, Bai, Jing and Long. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jiexin Bai, Academy of Ophthalmology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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