In a bizarre incident that came to light recently, a 60-year-old farmer from Madhya Pradesh had a 16-inch bottle gourd stuck in his rectum, which was successfully removed by a team of doctors after a two-hour long operation. The condition of the man, a resident of Khajuraho, was reportedly critical and he was suffering from severe stomach pain.
According to TOI, after X-ray the gourd was detected in the back and doctors said the internal injury was caused by a foreign object. However, it is unclear how the gourd entered the man’s rectum.
Foreign objects in the rectum are not a new phenomenon; Dr Sudhir Kumar, consultant neurologist, Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, said the first case was reported in the medical literature in the 16th century. “The causes may include inappropriate sexual activity, sexual assault, accident, or intentional use of drugs such as heroin or drugs, or even a mental health problem,” Dr. Kumar said.
Anorectal foreign bodies are rare cases in emergency services, and reports on the management of intact rectal foreign bodies were first described in the 16th century, reports the 2022-International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). “They appear to consist mostly of patients aged 30-40, with two-thirds being men. “The management of this intriguing problem has evolved with the addition of laparoscopic, endoscopic and minimally invasive surgical options,” the report said.
Anorectal foreign objects are usually reported to be objects made of plastic, aluminum or glass bottles, eggplants, carrots, or wood of various shapes.
In majority of cases, it causes pain in the anus or rectum, constipation, or incontinence. “Sometimes, this can cause damage to the rectal wall, which can be a serious issue. This can cause periadenitis where the infection spreads to the stomach and its lining. From there, the infection can spread to the rest of the body – called sepsis – which is a serious condition,” Dr Kumar said.
Dr. Kumar also emphasized that many times, “people delay treatment because of embarrassment”. “However, in an emergency, immediate hospitalization and removal of the object is required. In certain cases, antibiotics may also be needed. It can be treated in time. Otherwise, it can even be fatal in some minority of cases,” said Dr Kumar.
