A 5 cm long toothpick was found lodged in the patient's liver.

After a month of persistent 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 deeply embedded in the liver.

The Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases ( Hanoi ) recently admitted patient NTD (male, 77 years old) from Hanoi, who was hospitalized after a month of high fever and abdominal pain.

Surgeons removed a long toothpick that was deeply embedded in the liver.

At the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a CT scan revealed a large abscess (over 10 cm) in the left lobe of the liver. The patient underwent laparoscopic left hepatectomy to treat the abscess.

"During the surgery, we discovered a bamboo toothpick, approximately 5 cm long, embedded deep in the liver inside the abscess. This was the cause of the prolonged infection. The doctors removed the left liver lobe along with the abscess and extracted the foreign object. After the surgery, the patient is now stable," a member of the surgical team said.

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 bamboo toothpicks in his mouth after eating, even while sleeping. This caused him to unknowingly swallow the toothpicks.

According to Dr. Trong's assessment, due to their small size, sharpness, and hardness, bamboo toothpicks can easily penetrate the stomach wall, then migrate to the liver, small intestine, or colon. If not detected in time, this foreign object can cause serious damage, leading to prolonged inflammation and the formation of dangerous abscesses. When a liver abscess spreads and ruptures into the abdominal cavity, it can cause severe peritonitis. In addition, sepsis is also a major risk.

If the foreign object continues to move, it can perforate the small or large intestine, leading to peritonitis and intestinal obstruction. Furthermore, widespread liver damage can seriously affect liver function in the long term.

Dr. Trong also noted that, besides toothpicks, other foreign objects such as fish bones, chicken bones, pins, or small metal pieces can also cause dangerous consequences if not detected and treated promptly. To avoid the risk of swallowing foreign objects and unfortunate consequences, doctors recommend: not holding toothpicks in your mouth after eating, especially when lying down or sleeping. Chew thoroughly before swallowing, and avoid laughing, talking, etc., 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