In an unusual medical case, doctors in Shanghai removed a 15cm ceramic spoon from the stomach of a 29-year-old Chinese man, nearly six months after he accidentally swallowed it during a trip to Thailand.
The man, identified by Chinese media as Yan, visited Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai in June this year after experiencing persistent abdominal pain. He initially believed he might have ingested a piece of plastic while eating. However, medical imaging revealed a more startling discovery — a spoon lodged in the first section of his small intestine, the duodenum.
Doctors at the hospital described the situation as highly dangerous, stating that even the slightest movement of the object could have caused internal bleeding, perforation, or inflammation of the intestinal lining.
According to local reports, including the South China Morning Post, Yan later recalled that during a visit to Thailand in January, he became intoxicated and attempted to induce vomiting by using a coffee spoon. The utensil slipped from his fingers and was accidentally swallowed. He reportedly lost consciousness shortly after and assumed the incident had been a hallucination upon waking.
Remarkably, Yan resumed his regular routine after returning to China, including exercise and daily activities, without experiencing severe symptoms.
The incident has drawn significant attention on Chinese social media, where many expressed disbelief at the young man's ability to carry on with a spoon inside his body for such an extended period.
Medical staff successfully removed the foreign object via endoscopy, and the patient is said to be recovering well.
Experts have warned the public against self-induced vomiting using utensils or sharp objects, especially while under the influence of alcohol, due to the risk of serious internal injury.
