Old man had to have part of his liver removed due to the habit of chewing on bamboo toothpicks.

Mr. NTD (77 years old, from Hanoi ) has a habit of holding bamboo toothpicks in his mouth after meals, even when going to sleep. This causes him to unknowingly swallow toothpicks.

The elderly man is being cared for at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases after surgery - Photo: Provided by the hospital.

About a month before hospitalization, Mr. D. experienced persistent fever accompanied by a dull, prolonged abdominal pain of unknown origin. His family took him to a medical facility for examination, and he was subsequently transferred to the Center for Hepatobiliary and Digestive Surgery at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for further investigation.

At the hospital, doctors conducted a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition. A CT scan revealed an abscess in the left liver lobe that had grown to over 10cm, with a foreign object lodged inside – the cause of the prolonged infection.

Dr. Nguyen Minh Trong, director of the Center for Hepatobiliary and Digestive Surgery at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said: "After careful consideration, we decided to perform laparoscopic left hepatic lobectomy to remove the foreign body and treat the abscess, preventing potentially dangerous complications."

During the surgery, doctors discovered a large abscess, more than 10cm in diameter, located in the left lobe of the liver and adhering to the lesser curvature of the stomach. Inside, a bamboo toothpick about 5cm long was deeply embedded in the liver parenchyma.

Fortunately for the patient, the abscess was confined to the liver and had not ruptured, preventing peritonitis (which can be life-threatening), making the surgery go more smoothly.

The doctors removed the left lobe of the liver along with the abscess and extracted the foreign object. After the surgery, the patient was alert, stable, and recovered quickly.

According to the patient's medical history, he had a habit of holding bamboo toothpicks in his mouth after meals, even while sleeping. This caused him to unknowingly swallow toothpicks.

Because they are small, sharp, and hard, bamboo toothpicks can easily puncture 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.

How to prevent choking?

To avoid the risk of swallowing foreign objects and unfortunate consequences, doctors advise people not to hold bamboo toothpicks in their mouths after eating, especially when lying down or sleeping.

Chew thoroughly before swallowing, and avoid laughing, talking, watching TV, or using your phone while eating to reduce the risk of choking.

If you suspect you have swallowed a foreign object, absolutely do not try to remove it yourself by sticking it down your throat, as this could cause the object to penetrate deeper into the mucous membrane or move to a dangerous location.

Absolutely do not use folk remedies such as drinking vinegar or eating hot rice to try to push the foreign object down, as this may cause the object to go deeper and cause serious injury.

If you experience persistent abdominal pain or unexplained fever, you should immediately go to a medical facility for examination and timely treatment.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thoi-quen-ngam-tam-tre-cu-ong-phai-cat-bo-mot-phan-gan-20250310173617344.htm