A 39-year-old man from Ca Mau province sought emergency treatment at Hoang Tuan General Hospital in Can Tho on the afternoon of 23/6. He was experiencing severe breathing difficulties and coughing up bloody mucus, with a live Anabas fish lodged in his esophagus.

Upon his arrival, doctors immediately convened for a consultation and proceeded with an endoscopy to remove the foreign object. Doctor Thach Hoang Huy, Head of the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Department, stated that during the procedure, the medical team identified a live fish, nearly 10 cm long and about the size of two adult fingers. Its head had entered the esophagus, and its two swollen gills were tightly wedged, making the extraction particularly challenging.

The medical team employed specialized clamps to secure the fish's body. They then carefully rotated the fish to dislodge its gills from the esophageal wall before slowly extracting it. Doctor Huy confirmed the entire delicate procedure was completed in approximately 5 minutes.

Following the successful removal of the fish, the patient made a full recovery and was subsequently discharged from the hospital.

The Anabas fish after its removal from the patient's esophagus. Photo: Hoang Huy

An Binh