A man in China lived for eight years with a metal chopstick lodged in his throat after accidentally swallowing it during a meal in 2018 only having it removed last month, in March 2026.
According to a hospital case study published in March, the patient, identified as Mr. Wang, initially sought medical attention after swallowing the five-inch utensil but declined treatment. Doctors noted he refused surgery at the time, reportedly unwilling to undergo a procedure that would involve cutting open his neck.
Now 46, Wang managed the condition for years despite ongoing discomfort, as reported by the South China Morning Post. However, in recent weeks, his symptoms worsened, making it increasingly difficult for him to swallow, prompting him to seek help at Dalian Municipal Central Hospital in Liaoning Province.
Surgeons opted for a minimally invasive procedure, successfully removing the chopstick through his mouth rather than performing open-neck surgery, the hospital said.
“He told us a chopstick was stuck in his throat,” said Dr. Huang Weipeng. “I assumed it had just happened, but he said it had been there for eight years.”
Fortunately, the report noted that Wang’s vocal cords and surrounding tissues were not damaged and remained fully functional after the operation. He was discharged a few days later and is expected to recover completely.
