New Delhi: In a startling medical case, doctors at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital successfully conducted surgery to extract 39 coins and 37 magnets from a patient’s intestine. The patient, grappling with a psychiatric illness, had ingested the objects under the misguided belief that zinc aids in body-building.
The incident unfolded when a 26-year-old individual sought treatment at the emergency ward of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, complaining of persistent vomiting and abdominal discomfort spanning over 20 days. The patient, unable to consume food, underwent examination by senior consultant Dr. Tarun Mittal in the outpatient department. Relatives revealed the patient’s history of ingesting coins and magnets over several weeks, alongside ongoing treatment for psychiatric issues.
Diagnostic imaging, including abdominal x-rays and a CT scan, revealed the presence of numerous coins and magnets causing intestinal blockage. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgery to address the critical condition.
During the operation, doctors discovered the coins and magnets lodged in separate loops of the small intestine, with the magnetic force drawing the loops together and causing erosion. Surgical intervention involved extracting the foreign objects, followed by repair and rejoining of the affected intestinal segments. Notably, an additional cache of coins was found in the stomach, necessitating further extraction and surgical repair.
Medical experts retrieved a total of 39 coins, including denominations of ₹1, ₹2, and ₹5, alongside 37 magnets of various shapes such as hearts, spheres, stars, bullets, and triangles.
Post-surgery, an operative X-ray confirmed the successful removal of all foreign bodies, with the patient exhibiting favorable recovery. Remarkably, the individual was discharged in stable condition after a seven-day hospital stay.
Upon investigation, the patient disclosed ingesting coins and magnets under the misconception that zinc aids in body-building. The patient believed that the coins’ zinc content would enhance absorption, hence consuming magnets to retain the coins within the intestine.
The medical team at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, comprising Dr. Tarun Mittal, Dr. Ashish Dey, Dr. Anmol Ahuja, Dr. Vikram Singh, Dr. Tanushree, and Dr. Karthik, facilitated the intricate surgery and subsequent care.