After a month of continuous high fever and dull abdominal pain, a 77-year-old patient was hospitalized and found to have a liver abscess, caused by a long toothpick stuck deep in the liver.
The Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases (Hanoi) recently admitted patient NTĐ (male, 77 years old) in Hanoi, admitted after a month of high fever and abdominal pain.
Surgeons remove long toothpick stuck deep in liver
At the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the results of a computed tomography (CT) scan showed that the patient had an abscess in the left lobe of the liver that had grown large (over 10 cm). The patient underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove the left lobe of the liver and treat the abscess.
"During surgery, we discovered a 5cm long bamboo toothpick embedded deep into the liver inside the abscess. This was the cause of the prolonged infection. The doctors removed the left lobe of the liver along with the abscess and removed the foreign object. After surgery, the patient is now stable," said a member of the surgical team.
Dr. Nguyen Minh Trong, Director of the Center for Hepatobiliary and Digestive Surgery (Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases), said that patient D. had a habit of holding a bamboo toothpick in his mouth after eating, even when sleeping. This caused him to accidentally swallow the toothpick without realizing it.
According to Dr. Trong, due to its small size, sharpness and hardness, bamboo toothpicks can easily penetrate 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. When the liver abscess spreads, it ruptures into the abdominal cavity, causing severe peritonitis. In addition, sepsis is also a major risk.
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.
Dr. Trong also noted that, 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 handled promptly. To avoid the risk of swallowing foreign objects and unfortunate consequences, doctors recommend: do not hold bamboo toothpicks in your mouth after eating, especially when lying down or sleeping. Chew thoroughly before swallowing, avoid laughing, talking... while eating to reduce the risk of choking on foreign objects.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phat-hien-cay-tam-dai-5-cm-ghim-trong-gan-benh-nhan-185250310154250202.htm
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