Endoscopic extraction of a metal key impacted within the appendix

Ingested foreign bodies are rarely impacted in the appendix. They may be clinically latent or cause complications such as appendicitis or intestinal perforation, thus requiring prompt and appropriate therapy. A case is reported of a psychiatric, but in other respects asymptomatic, patient who presented with an ingested metal key deeply impacted within the appendix. The patient underwent urgent coloscopy for retrieval. Initially all conventional endoscopic instruments proved ineffective and the key was finally extracted using a simple manoeuvre, described herein.