Four cases of transanal rectal foreign bodies successfully treated by endoscopy

Transanal rectal foreign bodies are foreign items retained in the rectum following direct insertion through the anus. In general, the treatment strategy is to attempt endoscopic removal of the foreign body through the anus. At our hospital, there were 4 cases of rectal foreign bodies during the 4-year period from April 2010 to March 2014, and the foreign bodies were removed endoscopically in all the cases. All the patients were male, with a median age of 22.5 years (16 to 87 years) . Their motives for the foreign body insertion were sexual preference in 2 cases, amusement in 1 case, and habitual practice to induce defecation in 1 case. The foreign bodies found were vibrators in 2 cases, the plastic cap of an nasal spray in 1 case, and a toothbrush in 1 case. In all the cases, the removal was carried out under intravenous conscious sedation. The instruments to be used for the removal procedure were determined according to the case. Non-invasive procedures for the removal of transanal rectal foreign bodies are greatly beneficial for the patients.