Fish Bone Lodged in Elderly Man's Throat Nearly Proves Fatal
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
A 70-year-old man narrowly escaped death when a sharp fish bone lodged in his throat, causing severe pain and difficulty swallowing. Doctors at Wolfson Medical Center used a CT scan to locate the bone, which had penetrated his esophagus. A complex surgical procedure involving intubation and combined gastroscopy successfully removed the bone without complications. The patient was discharged the next day, and doctors are warning the public about the dangers of such incidents and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A 70-year-old man's life was endangered by a sharp fish bone lodged in his throat.
- The fish bone penetrated the patient's esophagus, narrowly avoiding a fatal perforation.
- Doctors at Wolfson Medical Center used a CT scan and complex gastroscopy to remove the bone.
- The successful removal required full anesthesia and airway protection due to the bone's sensitive location.
- The patient was discharged the day after the life-saving procedure.
- Doctors are urging the public to seek immediate emergency care for swallowing difficulties after eating fish or meat.
A 70-year-old man, identified only as L., nearly died after a fish bone became lodged in his throat during lunch. Several hours after the meal, he began experiencing severe chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and intense discomfort, prompting him to seek emergency care at Wolfson Medical Center. Initial examinations failed to locate a foreign object in his upper throat. However, due to his persistent complaints, doctors ordered an urgent CT scan. The scan revealed a long, sharp fish bone stuck at the critical junction between the upper esophagus and the middle esophagus, already penetrating the esophageal wall. Fortunately, a perforation, which could have led to a fatal infection in the respiratory system and chest, was averted.
"When dealing with a sharp foreign object in the upper esophagus, every second counts," explained Dr. Tamar Shilo, a senior physician at Wolfson Medical Center's Gastroenterology Institute. The patient was immediately taken to the operating room, where he was fully anesthetized and intubated to protect his airway during the removal procedure. A combined gastroscopy was performed by a multidisciplinary team from the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department, the Gastroenterology Institute, and the anesthesia team. They located the bone just above the vocal cords and, through a delicate maneuver, successfully extracted it whole without causing any tears to the esophagus.
After a brief observation period in the ENT ward, L. was discharged home the following day. Dr. Shilo highlighted the complexity of the case, noting the sensitive location of the bone at the semi-blind junction between the gastrointestinal and ENT domains. She emphasized that performing the procedure without full airway protection would have placed the patient's life in immediate danger. Dr. Shilo urged the public to be vigilant, advising anyone experiencing swallowing difficulties, pain, or excessive salivation after eating fish or meat to seek immediate emergency care. She also noted that regular chest X-rays often cannot detect fish bones, necessitating thorough diagnostic evaluation, and stressed that timely intervention can be life-saving, particularly for older adults.
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