Surgery to Extract a Thermometer
A 32-year-old man in China recently underwent a successful 20-minute procedure to remove a mercury thermometer he had swallowed as a 12-year-old. The operation took place at a hospital in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, after the patient sought medical help for stomach pain. Doctors discovered that the discomfort was linked to a foreign object that had remained lodged inside him for two decades.
Medical staff at Wenzhou Medical University located the thermometer in the patient's duodenum, where its tip was pressing against the intestinal wall. Notably, the mercury did not leak into his body, and the markings on the device had almost completely faded. This suggests that the thermometer caused no significant harm to his health over the years.
The Issue of Swallowing Foreign Objects
Each year in China, over one million people—60 percent of them children—visit hospitals due to similar incidents. These cases pose a major challenge for the country's healthcare system. When a foreign object enters the stomach, experts recommend:
- immediately stopping food and water intake;
- refraining from speaking;
- avoiding swallowing;
- seeking urgent medical attention.
This case highlights the importance of handling potentially dangerous items with care. Perforation—a tear in the wall of a hollow organ like the intestine—can lead to severe complications. Meanwhile, medical records continue to document instances where patients live with foreign objects inside them for extended periods. For example, a man surnamed Wang had a metal rod lodged in his throat for eight years.
The incident underscores the seriousness of swallowing foreign objects, a risk that especially affects children, who are more vulnerable to such accidents. Healthcare professionals stress the need to educate parents and caregivers about the safety of items children might play with to prevent future cases. The thermometer removal surgery also demonstrates the skill of medical teams in handling complex situations arising from accidental ingestions.
This recent case is not isolated, as it reflects a troubling trend of individuals living for years with foreign objects in their bodies. For instance, another man endured a similar ordeal, having a metal rod stuck in his throat for eight years before it was finally removed. Such incidents serve as a reminder of the risks associated with swallowing non-food items and highlight the importance of seeking prompt medical attention. To learn more about this particular case, click here.