The razor blade as seen during endoscopy and on CT scans. Photo: Supplied
Bach Mai Hospital reported the case on Friday.
The 45-year-old man, a resident of Ninh Binh Province, developed a sore throat while eating instant noodles for breakfast on the morning of October 21.
A private clinic detected a foreign object in his esophagus and transferred him to Bach Mai Hospital's Ninh Binh facility that afternoon.
Upon admission, the patient was conscious and reported a sore throat and chest pain.
He also had difficulty speaking due to pain and an elevated pulse.
A chest X-ray showed widespread air leakage in the mediastinum and both sides of the lower neck.
A CT scan revealed a razor blade lodged inside the esophagus at the level of the second and third thoracic vertebrae (D2-D3).
The scan also showed thickening and swelling of the surrounding esophageal walls, air in the mediastinum and free air in the lower neck.
The hospital convened a consultation involving specialists after receiving the imaging results.
Initial examinations found no signs of vascular injury.
The specialists agreed to remove the razor blade through endoscopy under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation in an operating room.
The razor blade had penetrated both opposing walls of the upper third of the esophagus.
The narrow section of the esophagus left doctors with limited room to maneuver the endoscope, making precise movements essential to avoid worsening the injuries.
During the procedure, doctors found the blade about 20 centimeters from the upper dental arch, embedded in both esophageal walls.
After removing it, they identified two opposing tears in the muscular layer, each measuring about two centimeters.
The medical team closed the perforation, which was accompanied by air leakage.
The endoscopic procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes and ended around midnight.
During the same session of general anesthesia, a gastrointestinal surgery team performed a gastrostomy and a jejunostomy on the patient.
Doctors said an untreated esophageal perforation could lead to mediastinitis or a mediastinal abscess.
These complications could require major surgery and prolonged intensive care and pose a risk of death.
A doctor at Bach Mai Hospital's Ninh Binh facility performs an endoscopic procedure. Photo: Supplied
Doctors warn against eating while using phones
Doctors advised people not to rush meals or use phones and perform other activities while eating.
They also recommended chewing food thoroughly and taking particular care when eating foods containing bones, splinters or other hard objects.
People who suspect they have swallowed a foreign object, particularly a sharp item such as a razor blade, needle or pointed bone, should not swallow more rice or bread to push it down.
They should also avoid inserting fingers or tools into their throats to remove the object, as this could worsen the injury.
People who develop a sore throat, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking or breathing problems after eating should seek immediate medical attention.
Those experiencing breathing difficulties or severe chest pain should call the emergency hotline at 115.
Max: 1500 characters
There are no comments yet. Be the first to comment.