In an extraordinary medical case, doctors in Shanghai extracted a 15cm ceramic spoon from the intestine of a 29-year-old man, nearly half a year after he accidentally swallowed it while vacationing in Thailand.
Identified by local media as Yan, the man sought help at Zhongshan Hospital in June after enduring ongoing abdominal discomfort. Initially suspecting he might have ingested plastic while eating, Yan was stunned when imaging scans revealed a spoon lodged in his duodenum, the first section of the small intestine.
Medical experts described the case as extremely dangerous, explaining that even a slight shift in the object’s position could have led to internal bleeding, perforation, or severe inflammation.
Local reports, including details from the South China Morning Post, noted that Yan recalled becoming heavily intoxicated during his January trip. While trying to induce vomiting with a coffee spoon, he accidentally swallowed it after losing his grip and fainted soon after. Believing the event had been a dream, Yan continued his normal life upon returning to China, including regular exercise, without significant symptoms.
The story has attracted widespread attention on Chinese social media, with many expressing disbelief that someone could unknowingly carry on for six months with a spoon inside their body.
Doctors eventually removed the spoon using endoscopic surgery, and Yan is now recovering.
Medical professionals have cautioned the public against attempting to induce vomiting using utensils or sharp objects, especially when under the influence of alcohol, as it poses serious risks of internal injury.
