Woman hospitalized claiming bone stuck in throat; doctors seek diagnosis

A 40-year-old woman has been admitted to the Regional Hospital of Pedro Juan Caballero due to severe difficulty swallowing, a condition her family attributes to a chicken bone lodged in her throat for approximately four months. The patient, identified as María, has reportedly been unable to consume even liquids, leading to significant weight loss over the past few weeks.

Hospital director Dr. Osmar Fariña stated that initial examinations, including X-rays and a CT scan, have preliminarily ruled out the presence of a foreign object in the affected area. However, further diagnostic tests are planned to determine the cause of her persistent swallowing difficulties. The patient resides in the Romero Kue settlement in the department's capital.

María's son, Víctor, mentioned that about a month ago, the same hospital advised them to consult an otolaryngologist, but the family lacked the financial means to afford such a consultation. Dr. Jorge Álvarez, an oncologist who evaluated the patient, indicated that an endoscopy will be performed. This procedure aims to determine whether the issue is related to a neoplastic pathology (tumor) or, as the patient claims, a physical obstruction. The ongoing evaluation seeks to identify the exact cause preventing ingestion and to rule out the possibility of a tumor.