Medical professionals at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi successfully extracted 39 coins and 37 magnets from the intestine of a 26-year-old man. The patient, grappling with a psychiatric illness, had ingested the foreign objects under the mistaken belief that zinc aids in body-building.
The young man, whose identity remains undisclosed, presented himself at the hospital’s emergency ward after enduring persistent vomiting and abdominal pain for over three weeks. Reports indicate that he had been unable to consume food during this period.
According to relatives, the patient had a recent history of consuming coins and magnets, a behavior associated with his ongoing psychiatric treatment. Upon examination, X-ray imaging revealed the presence of radio-opaque shadows resembling coins and magnets within his abdomen, prompting further investigation through a CT scan.
Subsequent scans uncovered a significant accumulation of coins and magnets causing intestinal blockage, necessitating immediate surgical intervention. Surgeons discovered the foreign objects arranged in two separate loops within the small intestine, with magnetic attraction causing erosion and complications.
A meticulous procedure led to the removal of all 39 coins and 37 magnets, varying in shapes such as hearts, spheres, stars, bullets, and triangles. Post-operative X-rays confirmed the success of the operation, with no residual foreign bodies remaining.
Despite the ordeal, medical professionals reported that the patient responded well to treatment and was discharged in stable condition after a week-long recovery period. Upon further inquiry, the patient revealed his misguided belief regarding zinc’s role in body-building, leading to the ingestion of coins containing the mineral and magnets to facilitate their retention in the intestine.