Heartfelt Swallow: Management of a Case of Multiple Ingested Foreign Bodies

Background: Sponge bezoars will absorb luminal contents, enlarge, and subsequently harden. There is significant potential for the development of intestinal obstruction and perforation. Methods: We report the case of an unsuspected polyurethane foam (PUF) sponge bezoar causing intestinal obstruction in an 8-year-old boy undergoing laparoscopy for an ingested lithium battery that was adherent to the cecum or the appendix. Results: The PUF sponge bezoar was removed from the small intestine via laparoscopic-assisted enterotomy. The battery was removed from the colon via colonoscopy after multiple attempts failed to retrieve it during surgery and after surgery with laxatives. Conclusion: This case raises awareness about the presence of unsuspected multiple ingested foreign bodies causing complications and the benefits of laparoscopy in identifying them and facilitating safe retrieval.