The management of retained rectal foreign body

Purpose: Since insertion of foreign body (FB) into the anus is considered as taboo practice, the patients may impose therapeutic dilemma on attending surgeon. Herein, we performed present study to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patient with retained rectal FB in Koreans, and to suggest management guideline for such cases. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 14 patients between January 2006 and December 2018. We assessed demographic features, mechanism of FB insertion, clinical course between diagnosis and management, and outcomes. Results: All patients were male (mean age, 43) presenting with low abdominal pain (n=2), anal bleeding (n=2), and concerning about retained rectal FB without symptom (n=10). FB insertion was most commonly associated with sexual gratification or anal eroticism (n=11, 78.6%). All patients underwent general anesthesia for anal sphincter relaxation except 2 patients who underwent FB removal in the emergency department. FBs were retrieved transanally using clamp (n=2), myoma screw (n=1), clamp application following abdominal wall compression (n=2), and laparotomy followed by rectosigmoid colon milking (n=2). Colotomy and primary repair were performed in 4 patients and Hartmann.