12 cm metal chopstick in man's throat for 8 years

Doctors in Liaoning province successfully removed a 12 cm metal chopstick from a man's soft palate, where it had been lodged for 8 years after he accidentally swallowed it while eating.

The surgery took place at Dalian City Central Hospital in early March, according to SCMP on 19/3. This unusual story has recently garnered significant attention on Chinese social media.

Eight years ago, Mr. Wang, now 48 years old, accidentally swallowed a chopstick while eating and drinking alcohol. At the time, he felt a choking sensation and intermittent throat pain, but his airway remained unaffected. When he went to the hospital for examination, doctors recommended open surgery in the neck area to remove the foreign object, but Mr. Wang refused, opting to live with the chopstick.

The 12 cm metal chopstick successfully removed from the throat of a man in Liaoning province, China. Photo: Baidu

A heavy drinker, the man stated that over the past 8 years, he occasionally felt the chopstick's presence. However, he endured it, attributing it to normal reactions after drinking alcohol. Recently, Mr. Wang began experiencing pain every morning upon waking. The pain intensified with swallowing, accompanied by a feeling of obstruction. Even after extended rest, these symptoms persisted. Recognizing the abnormality, he immediately sought emergency medical care.

Doctor Hoang Ve Bang said: "The patient mentioned a chopstick stuck in his throat. I initially thought it was a recent incident, but he confirmed it had been there for 8 years."

Examinations revealed the metal chopstick was deeply embedded in the patient's soft palate. Fortunately, the surrounding mucous membrane was not severely damaged, and nearby organs were not displaced. Doctors confirmed the patient's vocal cords were functioning normally. Since Mr. Wang declined open neck surgery, doctors devised a minimally invasive plan to remove the foreign object orally. The surgery proceeded smoothly with minimal blood loss. The 12 cm metal chopstick was successfully extracted. Mr. Wang recovered well and was discharged a few days later.

In China, news reports of unusual foreign object ingestion often attract public interest. Last year, a 64-year-old man in Anhui province also underwent surgery to remove a toothbrush that had been in his stomach for 52 years. He stated he had swallowed it accidentally in his youth but kept it a secret, fearing punishment from his parents.