In a remarkable medical procedure, doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi successfully removed 39 coins and 37 magnets from a man’s intestine through surgery. The patient, afflicted with a psychiatric disorder, had ingested the objects under the misconception that zinc aids in body-building.
The incident unfolded when a 26-year-old man visited the hospital’s emergency ward, complaining of persistent vomiting and abdominal pain lasting over 20 days, rendering him unable to eat. Senior consultant Dr. Tarun Mittal, attending to the patient, learned from his relatives that he had been consuming coins and magnets for several weeks, in addition to receiving treatment for his psychiatric condition.
An x-ray and CT scan revealed the presence of coins and magnets causing blockage in the small intestine. Consequently, the patient underwent surgery to address the issue. The procedure uncovered that the magnets and coins had formed two separate loops in the small intestine, drawn together by magnetic forces and causing erosion.
During the operation, surgeons extracted the foreign objects from the intestines and stomach, meticulously repairing the damaged tissues. In total, the medical team retrieved various denominations of coins and magnets of different shapes, including hearts, spheres, stars, bullets, and triangles.
Post-surgery, an operative X-ray confirmed the successful removal of all foreign bodies. The patient, who exhibited good tolerance to the procedure, was discharged in stable condition after a week-long recovery period.
Upon further investigation, the patient revealed that he consumed the coins and magnets in a misguided attempt to enhance his body-building efforts, believing in the zinc content of the coins for added benefit.
The multidisciplinary team at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, comprising consultants Dr. Tarun Mittal, Dr. Ashish Dey, and Dr. Anmol Ahuja, along with clinical assistants and residents, played pivotal roles in the patient’s diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Key Points:
- Surgeons at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital conducted surgery to remove 39 coins and 37 magnets from a man’s intestine.
- The patient, suffering from a psychiatric illness, ingested the coins and magnets under the misconception that zinc aids in body-building.
- The patient sought medical attention after experiencing repeated vomiting and abdominal pain for over 20 days, coupled with an inability to eat.
- Diagnostic tests, including x-ray and CT scan, revealed a blockage in the small intestine caused by the presence of coins and magnets.
- During surgery, doctors found two separate loops of intestines impacted by the magnetic effect of the foreign objects, necessitating careful extraction and repair.
- Various shapes of magnets, including hearts, spheres, stars, bullets, and triangles, were among the objects removed from the patient’s digestive tract.
- Post-operative X-ray confirmed the successful removal of all foreign bodies, and the patient was discharged in stable condition after a week of recovery.
- The patient admitted to ingesting the coins and magnets in an attempt to boost body-building efforts, based on the belief in the zinc content of the coins.
- The medical team at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, led by consultants and supported by clinical assistants and residents, played crucial roles in diagnosing, treating, and ensuring the patient’s recovery.
