In a medical revelation that has stunned doctors and netizens alike, a 64-year-old man in China recently had a 17-centimeter Toothbrush in Intestine removed more than five decades after he swallowed it as a child. The patient, identified as Mr. Yang, visited a local hospital complaining of persistent abdominal discomfort. What initially appeared to be a routine gastrointestinal check-up led to the discovery of a foreign object that had silently accompanied him for over half a century.
The extraordinary case, reported by the South China Morning Post, underscores the resilience of the human body and the hidden dangers of foreign objects inside the digestive system. What makes this case even more remarkable is the fact that Mr. Yang had no significant symptoms all these years, and only recently began to experience mild stomach pain. He had assumed that the toothbrush, which he accidentally swallowed at the age of 12, would dissolve on its own.
For over five decades, the toothbrush had remained inside his body, lodged in a bend of his small intestine, not causing any major disruptions. When doctors identified the object through imaging and decided on endoscopic surgery, they knew it wouldn’t be a standard procedure.
In fact, it turned out to be the longest removal surgery for a foreign object performed at the hospital in the past three years, taking approximately 80 minutes to complete. Thankfully, it was a success, and Mr. Yang is now recovering well.
Discovers Toothbrush in Intestine 52 Years After Swallowing
When Mr. Yang was just 12 years old, he accidentally swallowed a toothbrush. Afraid of the consequences and too embarrassed to admit it to his parents, he kept the incident a secret. According to the report, he hoped and assumed the toothbrush would somehow dissolve in his body, a belief not uncommon among children who don’t fully understand human anatomy.
Years passed, and Mr. Yang lived a normal life. He never felt significant discomfort or illness that could be attributed to the toothbrush. No gastrointestinal emergencies, no chronic digestive issues—just complete silence from the foreign object within him. This calm lasted more than five decades, until recently, when he began experiencing mild stomach pain and decided to seek medical advice.
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The scan revealed the shocking truth. Doctors were astonished to find the long toothbrush stuck deep inside his small intestine, where it had been quietly lodged for 52 years. According to medical experts, such a foreign object could have punctured internal tissues at any time, causing fatal complications like intestinal perforation, internal bleeding, or sepsis. That none of these occurred is being hailed as a near-miracle.
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The endoscopic surgery to remove the toothbrush was complicated, given its age and positioning. However, the operation was completed without any additional complications. The toothbrush was extracted intact, and its condition bore witness to the decades it had spent inside the human body. Mr. Yang’s story has now gone viral, captivating people across China and beyond with a bizarre yet deeply human tale of youthful fear, medical rarity, and biological luck.
The Medical Risks of Swallowing Foreign Objects
Swallowing non-digestible objects is not unheard of in medical practice. However, such incidents are usually resolved within a short period, either through natural excretion or surgical intervention. The fact that Mr. Yang’s case remained unresolved for 52 years is what makes it so unique. More importantly, it has raised critical awareness about the potential dangers of leaving foreign objects untreated in the digestive system.
Doctors explained that a toothbrush inside the intestine poses several risks. The rigid structure can cause lacerations, ulcerations, or perforations in the gut lining. If it moves, it could tear vital internal tissues, leading to infection or even death. Most cases involving ingested items are treated as medical emergencies for this reason. In Mr. Yang’s case, the toothbrush was wedged in a corner of the intestine where it stayed mostly motionless, avoiding such consequences.
Endoscopic surgery—a minimally invasive procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and tools—was chosen as the safest method to extract the item. The 80-minute-long procedure required patience and precision, considering the age and potential brittleness of the object. The surgical team later said it was the longest foreign object removal surgery they had performed in three years.
Interestingly, this is not the only case of a toothbrush being swallowed and retrieved years later. A similar incident occurred in 2019 in Guangdong province, where a 51-year-old man named Mr. Li had a 14-centimeter toothbrush removed from his duodenum 20 years after he had ingested it. Unlike Mr. Yang, Mr. Li’s case was related to a suicide attempt during a period of depression following his HIV diagnosis.
Such cases serve as stark reminders of the physical and emotional turmoil some individuals endure and the long-term impact of unresolved trauma. They also highlight the importance of psychological support, especially for children who might accidentally injure themselves and be too afraid to speak up.
The Internet Reacts: Shock, Sympathy, and a Bit of Humor
As news of Mr. Yang’s astonishing discovery spread across social media, thousands of people shared their reactions. The tone was a mix of awe, sympathy, and dark humor. Many users commented on his extraordinary luck, pointing out how miraculous it was that he lived a normal life for decades with such a dangerous object in his body.
“How lucky is he to survive with a toothbrush in his body for five decades?” wondered one commenter. Another joked, “Naughty things like this, especially from half a century ago, might really end up with the kid being beaten harshly by their parents.” Others shared similar stories of children swallowing small objects and never telling anyone, sparking a conversation about childhood fears and the importance of early medical intervention.
Some medical professionals used the opportunity to educate the public about the dangers of ingesting non-food items, especially among children. Pediatricians often encounter cases of children swallowing coins, batteries, or toy parts. While some of these pass harmlessly, others require urgent medical procedures. The toothbrush, being long and sharp, ranks high on the list of dangerous items.
There was also a thread of deeper reflection. Many social media users talked about how childhood fears—whether of parental punishment or embarrassment—can lead to potentially life-threatening situations. Mr. Yang’s story became more than just a bizarre medical case; it turned into a cautionary tale about the importance of open communication between parents and children, and the need to take unusual incidents seriously, no matter how improbable they may seem.
Interestingly, the toothbrush itself has become something of a symbolic object. Memes and jokes have circulated online, portraying it as the “longest-standing resident of the human intestine” or “the most loyal toothbrush in history.” While many laughed, there was also an undercurrent of respect for the remarkable survival story that it represented.
In the end, Mr. Yang’s experience underscores how little we sometimes understand about our own bodies and the hidden mysteries they may contain. It’s a story of survival, secrecy, and science—one that has captured the curiosity of millions and taught an important lesson in the process.