Chinese girl, 5, has gold bar removed in emergency surgery after swallowing it

A 5-year-old girl in China required emergency medical intervention after swallowing a gold bar, approximately 4 centimeters long and weighing 50 grams. The incident, which took place on August 16, led to the child being rushed to Beijing Children's Hospital for treatment.

According to reports, the girl accidentally ingested the gold bar while playing at home. Her family initially sought medical attention at various institutions, but they lacked the necessary facilities for emergency endoscopic removal of the foreign object. After approximately six hours, they arrived at Beijing Children's Hospital.

An X-ray examination confirmed the presence of the gold bar in the child's stomach. Medical professionals determined that the object's density, hardness, and smooth surface posed a significant risk of obstruction within the digestive tract. Potential complications included damage to the stomach lining, perforation, or bleeding.

Despite the narrow space and the risk of damaging the gastrointestinal lining, the medical team proceeded with the endoscopic removal. Using a snare-like instrument, they successfully grasped and extracted the gold bar intact within minutes. The child has since been recovering smoothly.