On the morning of 12/3, the man's family brought him to the emergency room with symptoms suggesting he had swallowed foreign objects. Imaging scans revealed three lighters lodged in his stomach. Doctor Nguyen Hop, head of the Department of Gastroenterology, noted these were large, hard objects that could easily cause obstruction, mucosal abrasion, or even intestinal perforation if not immediately removed. However, the family was unaware of why the young man had swallowed these items.

Three lighters were removed. *Photo: Hoang Trang*

Instead of open surgery, doctors opted for a flexible endoscopic procedure. After precisely locating the objects, the team skillfully used specialized instruments to enter the stomach and safely remove all three lighters. Currently, the patient's health is stable, and he remains hospitalized for further monitoring.

According to doctor Hop, endoscopy is an optimal technique for handling such situations, as it helps patients avoid major surgery, reduces pain, and shortens recovery time. He also advised people to immediately seek specialized medical care if they accidentally swallow foreign objects, emphasizing not to attempt self-removal or use home remedies, which could push the object deeper and cause damage to the digestive tract.

Le Nga