Giant Hair Tie Removed From Elderly Woman's Airway

Doctors at Ziv Medical Center in Safed successfully saved the life of an 80-year-old woman who was suffering from severe respiratory distress and choking. The patient, a resident of a Galilee village with advanced dementia, began experiencing difficulty breathing and swallowing.

Upon examination, physicians discovered a large, 15-centimeter hair tie lodged at the entrance to her esophagus. This foreign object was blocking over 80% of her airway, significantly reducing her blood oxygen levels.

Specialists Dr. Marwan Karam and Dr. Alaa Safia used an endoscope inserted through the nose to locate the obstruction. They identified the purple hair tie positioned over the epiglottis, the flap that protects the airway. While one doctor maintained the endoscope's position, the other used forceps inserted through the mouth to carefully extract the hair tie.

The patient was transferred back to the geriatric ward in stable condition and was breathing normally immediately after the removal. The doctors stated that without their timely intervention, the patient would have likely died, especially given her inability to communicate her distress due to dementia.

Prof. Salman Zarka, Director of Ziv Medical Center, praised the vigilance of the geriatric ward staff and the swift action of the ENT specialists, highlighting their professionalism and dedication in saving the patient's life.