An 80-year-old man underwent a high-risk, hour-long procedure after swallowing a toothpick while cleaning his teeth.
Doctors in India successfully removed a 9-inch toothpick from the oesophagus of an 80-year-old man in a rare and complex procedure that lasted nearly an hour. The patient had accidentally swallowed the object while cleaning his teeth, leading to severe pain and difficulty swallowing. He was unable to eat for nearly a week.
According to hospital sources, a specialised ENT team carried out the operation. Administering anaesthesia was particularly risky due to the patient’s high blood pressure. However, the medical team managed the case with caution and removed the toothpick without complications.
Initially, the patient’s family sought treatment at other centres, but without success. He was eventually brought to MKCG Hospital in Berhampur, where doctors conducted a detailed examination and proceeded with immediate surgery.
Attempts by the family to extract the toothpick themselves reportedly caused the patient further discomfort.
The hospital administration confirmed that the patient is now in stable condition and remains under medical supervision. His recovery has been steady.
