---
title: "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"
description: "A resident of Dalian, China, lived for eight years with a 12-centimeter metal stick in his throat, swallowed during a meal. After refusing surgery and ignoring the pain for a long time, the man finally consulted doctors who removed the object using a minimally invasive method."
date: 2026-10-18T07:20:03.134Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/dalian-resident-lives-eight-years-with-metal-stick-in-throat
tags: [china, medical-case, foreign-body, throat-surgery, dalian, health]
author: "Inna Kinsheva"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# 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

![X-ray of the neck with a metal rod and the extracted stick next to a ruler](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/zhitel-daliana-prozhil-vosem-let-s-metallicheskoj-palochkoy-v-gorle/zhitel-daliana-prozhil-vosem-let-s-metallicheskoj-palochkoy-v-gorle-1.webp)

## Key Points

- A 46-year-old Dalian resident lived for eight years with a 12-centimeter metal stick in his throat, swallowed during a meal
- The patient initially refused surgery due to the need for a neck incision and associated risks
- Dr. Huang Weipeng and his team removed the object using a minimally invasive method through the oral cavity
- The hospital published the case as a warning: if a foreign body is swallowed, you must immediately consult a doctor

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.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Китайский мужчина прожил восемь лет с металлической палочкой в горле – Zamin.uz, 17.10.2026](https://zamin.uz/ru/mir/224787-kitayskiy-muzhchina-prozhil-vosem-let-s-metallicheskoy-palochkoy-v-gorle.html) - Primary source — report from Dalian Central Hospital. All key facts (age, duration, object size, operation method, lead doctor's name) are consistent. There are no discrepancies with other sources as the news is distributed through a single channel.

## FAQ

### How exactly was the metal stick removed from the throat?

Dr. Huang Weipeng's team used a minimally invasive surgical method through the oral cavity, abandoning the initial plan for a neck incision. The stick was extracted entirely.

### Why didn't the patient see a doctor immediately after swallowing the stick?

According to Wang, after the incident, he only felt a choking sensation and periodic pain, but his breathing was not obstructed. When doctors proposed surgery with a neck incision, he refused due to risks and continued living, getting used to the mild pain.

### What risks are associated with the prolonged presence of a foreign body in the throat?

Medics point out that a metal object can damage throat tissues, nearby blood vessels, and mucous membranes, as well as cause dangerous complications. In Wang's case, no suppuration or bleeding was detected over eight years, but chronic pain still required surgery.