Intestinal perforation due to a habit many people have.

In less than a month, the Duy Xuyen Regional Medical Center (Da Nang City) consecutively received two patients with perforated intestines due to accidentally swallowing bamboo toothpicks, requiring emergency surgery.

On the afternoon of December 20th, Dr. Tran Do Nhan, Director of the Duy Xuyen Regional Medical Center, announced that doctors had successfully performed surgery on cases of small and large bowel perforations caused by foreign objects in the digestive tract.

Previously, patient NTH (56 years old, residing in Duy Xuyen commune) was admitted to the hospital with acute right-sided abdominal pain. After examination and diagnosis, a surgical abdominal condition was determined, and the patient was scheduled for emergency laparoscopic surgery.

The foreign object, a toothpick, was removed promptly.

During the surgery, the team discovered a bamboo toothpick, approximately 4cm long, that had perforated the colon. The foreign object was removed, and the perforation was completely closed using endoscopic suturing.

Notably, this is the second case in nearly a month that the Duy Xuyen Regional Health Center has received.

On November 25th, patient NTM (47 years old, residing in Duy Xuyen commune) was also admitted to the hospital with acute abdominal pain. Clinical examination and CT scan revealed an acute injury in the left abdominal region, suspected to be a perforated bowel. During surgery, the surgical team discovered a bamboo toothpick, approximately 3cm long, piercing the small intestine.

The bamboo toothpick was successfully removed by the doctors.

Following the surgery, both patients' conditions improved rapidly, pain decreased significantly, and digestive function gradually stabilized.

Based on these two cases, doctors reported that, due to their sharp ends, the foreign objects had penetrated the intestinal wall, creating small perforations, allowing digestive fluids and food to leak into the abdominal cavity, posing a risk of peritonitis and severe infection if not treated promptly.

Doctor Nhan advises that people need to be especially careful in their daily lives and eating habits, avoiding the habit of holding toothpicks in their mouths or using bamboo toothpicks during meals, especially for the elderly.

"When unusual abdominal pain occurs, or if the pain gradually increases or becomes severe, it is necessary to go to a medical facility immediately for examination and timely treatment to avoid potentially dangerous complications," Dr. Nhan further shared.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/thung-ruot-do-thoi-quen-rat-nhieu-nguoi-mac-169251220170410105.htm