During the examination of a 33-year-old married woman from Narsaraopet, Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh, who was experiencing severe pain in the left side of her chest, doctors were astonished by the results of the ultrasound scan. Handles, bolts, and other objects were found in her abdomen. Due to her critical condition, doctors performed surgery to remove these foreign bodies.
According to Dr. Ramchandra Reddy, the physician who treated the woman, this was the first case in his career where he had seen an object about 25 centimeters long in a patient's abdomen. Passing such a long object through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach is considered an extremely rare occurrence because it can cause damage from the stomach to the intestines.
According to a BBC report, the woman swallowed these objects in a fit of anger following a conflict with her father. The examination revealed that the woman had previously engaged in similar actions: about a year ago, she had to undergo surgery to remove four handles she had swallowed. Dr. Reddy suggested that this might be related to some mental disorder, as the woman was under severe stress after the argument with her father. After the operation, she was referred to a mental health specialist—a psychiatrist—and treatment is ongoing.
Doctors warn that swallowing handles, bolts, and other sharp or long objects poses a significant danger. If an object passes through the throat or esophagus, it can cause internal injuries. When lodged in the abdomen or intestines, sharp objects can puncture the intestinal wall.
Dr. Ramchandra Reddy emphasized that not everyone is capable of swallowing such items. In some cases, repeated ingestion of inedible objects may be linked to psychological problems. Therefore, in such instances, it is necessary not only to treat stomach issues but also to conduct a mental health assessment. Some people also swallow hair; if hair remains in the stomach for a long time, it can form a knot, which may cause blockage of the stomach and intestines.
