Expert: Kathleen RN - 11/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: I'm doing a paper and i want to know if you have seen or heard of a female that swallowed a cat necklace and was sent to a psychiatrist because of a obsession with cats??? i have no idea if you have ever heard of this but i am just wondering if you have. also, if you know, how would you treat this person if she went to the Emergency Room? thanks :))


ANSWER: Hello Student!
I work in the ER and have never heard of this story! How bizarre! If I had this patient, I would immediatley assess if the necklace was obstructing her airway in anyway. If not and she already swallowed it we would send her to cat scan (no pun intended) to see where the necklace was in her GI tract and she would probably require emergency surgery to remove it, before it blocked her intestines or caused a perforation. I hope you get an A on your paper!
         Sincerely, KathleenY2

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks you so much. i was also wondering if the ear could possibly nick something in your body like your throat or something. but thank you for your help :))

Answer
Hello again student!
Not unless it had an earring on it! Ear is made up of cartlidge. (soft tissue) So it couldn't nick anything! Now if it had an earring, it could nick alot! Again good luck on that paper! If you have anymore questions, I will be glad to try and help you!
         Sincerely, KathleenY2