Surgical Management of an Intentionally Ingested Vape Device Chronically Impacted within the Duodenum of an Adult Male

Most foreign body ingestion cases are accidental in the adult population. Intentional ingestion of foreign bodies in adults is typically associated with psychiatric disorders or developmental delay. In most cases, foreign bodies pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract or can be managed endoscopically. Rarely, surgical intervention is indicated. We present a unique case of surgical management of an intentionally ingested vape device that was chronically impacted within the duodenum of an adult male present for six weeks before intervention without associated perforation. The foreign object was removed via exploratory laparotomy with duodenotomy and primary duodenorrhaphy with an uncomplicated postoperative course. There are only two previously reported cases of an ingested vape device. One was managed by observation, and the other was removed endoscopically. There are no previously reported cases of an ingested vape device that required surgical management.