According to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mr. NTĐ (77 years old, Hanoi) was admitted to the hospital with a continuous fever accompanied by a dull, persistent abdominal pain of unknown cause.
The CT scan results showed that the old man had an abscess in the left lobe of his liver that had grown to over 10 cm, with a foreign object stuck inside – the cause of the prolonged infection. The doctors decided to perform laparoscopic surgery to remove the foreign object and treat the abscess, preventing possible dangerous complications.
During the surgery, the doctors discovered a large abscess, more than 10 cm in diameter, located in the left lobe of the liver and attached to the small curvature of the stomach. Inside, there was a bamboo toothpick about 5 cm long that had been deeply embedded in the liver parenchyma. Fortunately for the patient, the abscess was still localized in the liver and had not ruptured (if it had ruptured, it could have caused peritonitis and endangered the patient's life). After the surgery, the patient was alert, stable, and recovered quickly.
It is known that the old man had a habit of holding a bamboo toothpick in his mouth after eating, even when going to bed. This caused him to accidentally swallow the toothpick without realizing it. Because it is small, sharp and hard, the bamboo toothpick can easily pierce the stomach wall, then move to the liver, small intestine or colon. If not detected promptly, this foreign object can cause serious damage, leading to prolonged inflammation and the formation of dangerous abscesses.
Dr. Dao Thi Hong Nhung, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said: Foreign bodies in the digestive tract are not common problems, especially cases where foreign bodies penetrate the liver. With foreign bodies such as bamboo toothpicks, abdominal X-rays are often of little value in diagnosis. Ultrasound and CT scans help to accurately detect the location of foreign bodies.
In the case of the old man, if not intervened promptly, in addition to facing many dangerous complications such as widespread liver abscess, rupture into the abdominal cavity, causing severe peritonitis, he could also have sepsis, especially in elderly patients with underlying diseases.
If the foreign object continues to move, it can perforate the small intestine or colon, leading to peritonitis and intestinal obstruction. Not only that, widespread liver damage can also seriously affect liver function in the long term. In addition to bamboo toothpicks, other foreign objects such as fish bones, chicken bones, pins or small pieces of metal can also cause dangerous consequences if not detected and treated promptly.
To avoid the risk of swallowing foreign objects and unfortunate consequences, doctors recommend that people do not hold bamboo toothpicks in their mouths after eating, especially when lying down or sleeping. Chew thoroughly before swallowing, avoid laughing, talking, watching TV or using the phone while eating to reduce the risk of choking on foreign objects.
In case of suspected foreign body ingestion, never try to poke your throat, as this may cause the foreign body to penetrate deeper into the mucosa or move to a dangerous location. Never try to use folk methods such as drinking vinegar or eating hot rice to try to push the foreign body down, as this may cause the foreign body to penetrate deeper and cause serious damage.
When experiencing symptoms of prolonged abdominal pain and unexplained fever, you should go to a medical facility immediately for examination and timely treatment.
Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/phai-cat-gan-vi-thoi-quen-ngam-tam-tre-i761457/
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