Eight years with a stick in the throat: how a Dalian resident lived with a 12-cm metal object in his body and why he refused surgery

The Central Hospital of Dalian (China) recently admitted a 46-year-old patient surnamed Wang complaining of severe throat pain and the sensation of a foreign object. An X-ray examination revealed a shocking diagnosis: a 12-centimeter stainless steel metal stick was lodged in the man's neck area. According to the patient himself, he accidentally swallowed this object during a meal exactly eight years ago. Since then, he had lived without suspecting the exact scale of the problem until his condition became critical.

Refusal of surgery and eight years of 'adaptation'

Following the incident, Wang felt a choking sensation and periodic throat pain, but his breathing was not obstructed. Doctors attempted to alleviate his discomfort, but removing the stick required a neck incision, which carried operational risks. The man refused surgical intervention. Over the next eight years, he lived getting used to the periodically occurring mild pain, which, in his view, did not interfere with daily life. However, recently his throat began to hurt much more, especially in the mornings. When painkillers stopped helping, Wang urgently went to the hospital.

X-ray and risk assessment

The examination revealed no obvious traces of trauma, bleeding, or suppuration around the foreign body—over eight years, the stick had not caused acute inflammation. Nevertheless, as the medics emphasized, the prolonged presence of the metal object in the throat tissues could damage surrounding structures, including nearby blood vessels and mucous membranes. A lateral X-ray clearly showed the position of the 12-centimeter rod in the neck area, allowing surgeons to plan the operation.

Minimally invasive removal instead of an incision

Medical staff led by Dr. Huang Weipeng decided to abandon the initial plan for a neck incision and chose a minimally invasive surgical method through the oral cavity. As a result, the 12-centimeter stainless steel stick was extracted entirely. In a photo published by the hospital, the extracted object lies next to a ruler confirming its length. After several days of observation, the pain and discomfort in the patient's throat rapidly decreased, and the congestion in the mucous membrane gradually subsided.

Public warning

The Dalian Central Hospital published this case as a cautionary example for the public. Specialists emphasized that if a foreign object is accidentally swallowed or enters the body, immediate medical attention must be sought. The prolonged presence of a foreign body in the organism can injure surrounding tissues and cause dangerous complications. Wang's case clearly demonstrated that ignoring a problem that initially seems minor can lead to serious consequences—in this case, eight years of waiting turned into chronic pain and required surgical intervention.