Foreign bodies of the rectum: a surgical and psychiatric issue

Background

The extraction of colorectal foreign bodies is apparently a surgical issue. However, the psychological background of people with foreign bodies of the rectum reveals the need for support by psychiatrists, psychologists and social services.

Materials and methods

During the period 1990–2005, there have been admitted 3 men with retained colorectal foreign bodies. The age of the patients was 34, 58 and 73 years old and the foreign bodies were a cup, a cap of an aerosol can and a wooden part of a chair arm respectively. Although the use of these foreign bodies is usually for anal autoeroticism, two of the patients reported that the object was put there by their erotic partner and the old man did not give any explanation. Information regarding the foreign body was taken at the Emergencies and the patients were told to refer to a surgeon.

Results

The extraction was made transanally in all cases. The 34 year old and the 58 year old man left the Hospital during the admission day. Only the 58 year old man reported that he was married and his wife accompanied him. The 73-year-old man stayed one more day and seemed obviously embarrassed during the round of the Surgical Department. He did not talk to other patients, he accepted a psychiatric examination and medication was recommended

Discussion

Interviewing people with foreign bodies of the rectum is a very difficult mission for the surgeon. History of the incident is very important because some foreign bodies are not visible via X-Rays. Thus in order to help these people and avoid an unnecessary laparotomy the surgeon should be a very sensitive interviewer and succeed to have a good description of the retained foreign body.