In the city of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, an extremely unusual incident occurred: doctors managed to save the life of a woman suffering from Pica by extracting six needles and other sharp and inedible objects from her abdominal cavity.
Several days ago, the woman developed a habit of consuming such items as needles, hairpins, and glass. When her condition became critical, relatives brought her to the hospital for treatment.
The sharp objects reached the intestines, causing multiple perforations in the intestinal walls. Following the appearance of holes in the intestines, infection spread into the abdominal cavity, and fecal matter leaked out. Examinations showed that two needles had passed through the intestines and reached the right kidney. The removal of these objects presented a serious medical challenge for the doctors.
Initially, relatives showed the woman to a doctor who had received the 'Gold Medal' at Narayan Swarnapura Hospital. After an X-ray, numerous needles were found in different parts of the abdomen. Subsequently, a CT scan confirmed the intestinal perforation. Given the patient's severe condition, the doctors made an immediate decision to perform surgery and began preparations for the surgical intervention.
The team of doctors performed a complex operation that lasted about two and a half hours. Using a C-arm device, the exact location of the needles inside the body was determined, after which they were carefully removed. The removal of two needles that had passed through the intestines and reached the right kidney was particularly challenging, but the doctors successfully managed this task.
During the operation, numerous holes in the intestine were also repaired. A temporary colostomy was created to control the infection and the leakage of intestinal contents. According to the doctors, the woman's condition was very serious because the spread of infection after intestinal perforation threatened her life. Without timely surgery, the situation could have worsened.
After the operation, the woman remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for about three to four days. After her condition stabilized under medical supervision, she was transferred to a regular ward. Currently, the woman is eating normal food, and her condition is assessed as improving. However, treatment is not complete just after the operation; psychiatric monitoring continues due to the issue related to her behavior.
Doctors explain that Pica is a condition where a person begins to consume substances that are not normally edible. Such items can include dirt, paper, glass, hair, needles, or other inedible objects. The causes may be related to mental health issues such as stress, depression, family conflicts, or OCD. In some cases, the cause may be a nutrient deficiency, such as iron or zinc.
Some patients also develop a habit of eating hair, known as trichophagia. In such cases, the problem is not limited only to the stomach or intestines, and the consumption of sharp or dangerous objects creates a risk of serious internal injuries and infections.
The doctor urged the public not to ignore sudden changes in family members' behavior, especially if they start eating dirt, paper, glass, needles, hair, or any other inedible objects. If such symptoms appear, it is necessary to consult a doctor promptly for examination, as well as seek consultation and receive necessary treatment from a mental health specialist.
In conclusion, the doctor emphasized that the woman's condition was extremely serious due to the spreading infection and the leakage of intestinal contents resulting from multiple perforations. The fact that two needles passed through the intestines and reached the right kidney made any delay dangerous. Thanks to the use of C-arm technology, doctors were able to determine the location of the needles and complete the complex operation in about two and a half hours, removing six needles and other sharp objects, repairing intestinal damage, and establishing a temporary colostomy to control the leak. The woman's condition is currently stable, and she is receiving psychiatric consultations to prevent a recurrence of this behavior, which allowed her life to be saved.