99-year-old man in critical condition with 4cm fish spine stuck in his throat

A 99-year-old man in Quang Tri was hospitalized with a sore throat and difficulty breathing after a meal due to a fish bone stuck in his throat.

Fish bone successfully removed from 99-year-old patient's neck - Photo: Quang Tri General Hospital

On the morning of August 31, Quang Tri General Hospital announced that it had successfully treated patient Hoang Van T. (99 years old) who had a fish bone stuck in his throat.

Previously, the hospital admitted a 99-year-old patient with symptoms of difficulty breathing and severe pain in the throat. Through endoscopy, the doctor discovered a foreign object, a fish bone about 4cm long, with many sharp spikes, deep in the lower throat and cervical esophagus.

What makes this case special is not only the patient's advanced age, but also the complexity and danger of the foreign object.

Foreign objects cannot be removed by conventional methods because if not handled properly, these sharp points can tear the esophagus, cause bleeding, or even lead to dangerous complications such as stabbing the carotid artery or perforating the esophagus.

Because the foreign object was too complicated, the functional exploration team could not apply the usual method of removing it. Instead, the doctor used specialized cutting forceps to cut off each sharp point, reducing damage, and then removed the main bone body. The treatment was successful, the patient avoided serious complications and was discharged after 3 days of observation.

Doctors warn that choking on bones or foreign objects is a common situation, but many people are still subjective or handle it incorrectly. Especially in the elderly, children, and people with dentures, the risk of choking on foreign objects is even higher.

Doctors recommend that people should eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and not talk while eating; limit the use of small bones in cooking to avoid bone fragments; and the elderly should cut food into small pieces.

When choking on a foreign object, do not try to clear your throat, swallow rice, or use folk remedies because this can cause the object to get stuck deeper and cause dangerous complications.

People need to go to the nearest medical facility immediately for timely treatment when there are signs of choking on a foreign object.

HOANG TAO

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoc-doan-xuong-song-ca-4cm-trong-co-cu-ong-99-tuoi-nguy-kich-20250831114206357.htm