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Man Discovers Mercury Thermometer in Stomach After 20 Years
🇬🇷 Greece /Health & Science

Man Discovers Mercury Thermometer in Stomach After 20 Years

From Ta Nea · (1d ago) Greek Positive tone

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A 32-year-old Chinese man discovered a mercury thermometer lodged in his duodenum, which he had accidentally swallowed 20 years prior at the age of 12.
  • The thermometer was causing severe stomach pain due to pressure on his intestinal wall, posing a high risk of perforation and internal bleeding.
  • Surgeons successfully removed the intact thermometer in a 20-minute procedure, highlighting the dangers of swallowing foreign objects and the need for immediate medical attention.

In a truly astonishing medical case, a 32-year-old man from Wenzhou, China, has undergone surgery to remove a mercury thermometer he accidentally swallowed two decades ago as a child. The patient, identified by the surname Wang, sought medical help for severe stomach pain, only for doctors at The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University to discover the foreign object lodged in his duodenum. The thermometer's tip was pressing directly against the intestinal wall, creating a critical risk of perforation and severe internal bleeding.

Wang confessed that he had swallowed the thermometer at the age of 12 but was too afraid to tell his parents. At the time, his parents were busy with work, and as he experienced no immediate symptoms, the incident faded from memory. This remarkable story underscores the long-term consequences that can arise from seemingly minor childhood accidents, especially when they go unreported due to fear or embarrassment. The fact that the thermometer remained undetected and asymptomatic for so long is a medical anomaly in itself.

Surgeons managed to remove the thermometer intact in a delicate 20-minute operation. The procedure was described as extremely precise due to the object's proximity to the bile ducts and the risk of damaging the intestinal lining. Medical experts emphasized the importance of seeking immediate medical care for anyone who swallows a foreign object, advising them to stop eating and drinking and limit speech.

This incident, widely discussed on Chinese social media, has generated surprise and relief. Many users expressed how fortunate Wang was that the thermometer did not break or leak mercury. The Wenzhou Daily reported that over a million people in China seek medical help annually for swallowed foreign objects, with children and the elderly being the most common victims. While this particular case had a fortunate outcome, it serves as a potent reminder of the potential dangers and the critical need for prompt medical intervention.

He was incredibly lucky. Fortunately, the thermometer did not break and leak mercury.

— Social media userComment on the patient's fortunate outcome after the thermometer was successfully removed.
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Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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