Obstruction and perforation of the small bowel caused by inadvertent ingestion of a blister pill pack in an elderly patient.

Perforation of the small bowel due to foreign body ingestion is a rare instance that occurs in less than 1% of all ingestions. Although rare, ingestion of blister pill packaging is becoming more recognised as a causative agent for intestinal perforation, but is very rarely reported to cause intestinal obstruction. This is a report of a 66-year-old woman who presented with intestinal obstruction and underwent laparotomy, revealing small bowel perforation by a piece of blister pill pack foil. The patient was incognisant of the ingestion. 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.