Endoscopic Removal and Conservative Treatment of a Small Bowel Perforation Caused by a Toothpick: A Case Report

Abstract

This case report describes a unique instance of small bowel perforation in a 49-year-old woman caused by an ingested toothpick. Initially suspected of colonic diverticulitis, a final diagnosis of small bowel perforation was made later, and the toothpick was successfully removed via endoscopy. This case emphasizes the need to consider foreign body ingestion in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and demonstrates the feasibility of conservative endoscopic approaches in similar cases.

Keywords: colonic diverticulitis; endoscopic removal; foreign body ingestion complications; small bowel perforation; toothpick.