On 10/3, Doctor Bui Thanh Hai, from the Department of Digestive Surgery, reported that the team completed the 45-minute procedure to remove the foreign object via a natural route. The teenager's health is stable; doctors observed his rectal lining was only slightly scratched, and his digestive function is recovering. He is expected to be discharged within days.

X-ray image showing the foreign object in the rectum. *Photo: Hospital provided*

The male student was previously admitted to the emergency room suffering from severe lower abdominal pain. Doctors examined him, where they found a large foreign object deeply lodged in the rectum, compressing nearby pelvic organs. The reason and context for the student's actions are currently unknown.

The biggest challenge for the surgical team was the pestle's size, which exceeded the anal sphincter's maximum capacity for a teenager. The object's size and weight created a "vacuum effect," causing the intestinal wall to grip its surface tightly. Pure pulling force would have posed a high risk of perineal tearing or rectal rupture.

To overcome this pressure, doctors agreed on a meticulous treatment plan, coordinating each technical step. One team member stabilized the object, while another skillfully inserted an air pump behind it. This technique eliminated the suction force, allowing the surgical team to safely remove the pestle and preserve the anal sphincter's function for the patient.

The foreign object after removal. *Photo: Hospital provided*

Doctor Hai noted that teenagers often explore their bodies out of curiosity yet lack safety knowledge. Such actions directly threaten life, potentially causing intestinal perforation, peritonitis, or permanent sphincter damage leading to fecal incontinence. Doctor Hai advises parents to engage, share, and provide timely sex education to their children. Should an incident occur, families must immediately take the child to specialized medical facilities; never attempt to remove foreign objects at home.

Le Nga