Traveling toothpicks.

Although most ingested foreign bodies usually pass through the gastrointestinal tract uneventfully, such objects infrequently cause intestinal perforation and may even result in death. Herein we present five cases of gastrointestinal perforation caused by toothpicks. In one of these patients, the toothpick penetrated the inferior vena cava and caused overwhelming bacteremia and death. A major factor that contributes to the inability to identify foreign objects such as toothpicks in food is the wearing of dental plates, which precludes normal palatal sensitivity. Patients should be alerted to the potential hazards associated with the use of toothpicks.