Presentation
Two-day history of vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea. Owner noted that plastic garbage can was chewed.
Patient Data
There is an irregular, soft tissue opacity in the pylorus of the stomach which is highlighted by gas on the left lateral projection. Several small intestinal loops are mildly enlarged and plicated. The urinary tract, liver, and spleen are normal.
Gastric and small intestinal linear foreign body obstruction.
The foreign material is present in the pylorus as a large mass with a hyperechoic rim and distal acoustic shadowing. The hyperechoic line representing the linear foreign material exits the pylorus to the duodenum and jejunum. The intestinal walls are mildly thickened and are plicated around the taut foreign body.
Case Discussion
Gastric and intestinal linear foreign body. Foreign material was removed from the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum via enterotomy.
The left lateral projection is particularly useful for highlighting foreign material with gas. Linear foreign bodies are often anchored in the pylorus, and are most visible on this view. Fluid in the pylorus can obscure the foreign material in right lateral recumbency.
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.