A foreign body in the recto sigmoid region resulting in colonic perforation and concurrent acute appendicitis

A child with a foreign body lodged in the rectoaigmoid region resulting in colonic perforation and concurrent acute appendicitis is presented. During clinical evaluation, there were no signs of generalized peritonitis; abdominal sonography was performed to evaluate for acute appendicitis. An erect abdominal xray showed a radio opaque shadow in the right iliacfossa. At laparotomy, the tip of a pen was seen to perforate the sigmoid colon and impinge on the base of the appendix which was grossly inflamed. Subsequently, the pen was removed from within the colon and the colon was repaired in two layers. An appendicectomy was performed. The Sri Lanka Journal of Surgery 2014; 32(3): 36-37