In an extraordinary case that highlights both the resilience of the human body and the advances in modern medicine, Chinese doctors have successfully extracted a toothbrush that had been lodged in a man’s intestine for over more than 50 years.
A Forgotten Childhood Incident
The patient, a 64-year-old man identified as Mr. Yang, recently sought medical attention after experiencing persistent stomach pain. During a routine examination of his digestive system, doctors made a startling discovery: a 17-centimeter toothbrush lodged in his small intestine. Remarkably, Mr. Yang recalled accidentally swallowing the toothbrush at the age of 12, but fear prevented him from telling his parents. He assumed the foreign object would eventually dissolve and continued his life without incident—until now.
Surgical Success and Medical Risks
Doctors at the hospital performed an endoscopic procedure, skillfully removing the toothbrush in an operation that lasted 80 minutes. Medical experts noted that such a foreign object could have posed serious health risks, including the potential for intestinal perforation, a potentially fatal complication. Fortunately, the toothbrush had remained trapped in a bend of the intestine, minimizing movement and damage over the decades.
Not an Isolated Case
Surprisingly, this is not the first time Chinese doctors have encountered such a situation. In 2019, a 51-year-old man in Guangdong province had a 14-centimeter toothbrush removed from his duodenum. He revealed that he had swallowed the toothbrush 20 years earlier during a suicide attempt after being diagnosed with HIV.
A Cautionary Tale
These rare cases serve as a reminder of the importance of seeking immediate medical attention when foreign objects are ingested. They also underscore the remarkable adaptability of the human body, as well as the skill and perseverance of medical professionals who tackle such unusual and challenging cases.
