Doctors in Shillong Civil Hospital have accomplished a rare feat by removing a toothbrush from a woman’s stomach without surgery.
The 50-year-old woman, a resident of Lower Mawprem in Meghalaya capital Shillong, was in no discomfort after swallowing the toothbrush while cleaning her teeth in January.
However, her daughter insisted that she consult a doctor. The doctor the woman visited referred her case to Isaac Syiem, senior surgeon in the Shillong Civil Hospital.
Not seen on X-ray
The X-ray reports on January 25 could not detect the toothbrush in her stomach. Dr. Syiem then suggested she undergo endoscopy, which helped detect the object in her stomach.
Endoscope used
“We used an endoscope, hooked the object and successfully pulled the brush out through her mouth. No surgery was needed in the process,” Dr. Syiem said on Monday.
The patient was kept under observation for a few hours and was discharged on January 28, the day the endoscopy was done.
“Even though there was no discomfort, the situation could have turned life-threatening had she not been brought in for medical aid,” the surgeon said.
