Doctors Retrieve 29 Spoons, 19 Toothbrushes & 2 Pens from Man’s Stomach

Surgeons in India have successfully removed a staggering collection of everyday items from a man’s stomach.

The operation, described by doctors as unusual and shocking, saw the retrieval of 29 steel spoons, 19 toothbrushes, and 2 pens.

The 35-year-old man, identified as Sachin, had been admitted to a de-addiction centre in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Sachin was rushed to the hospital after complaining of intense abdominal pain.

A Shocking Operating Theatre

The patient was hospitalised after suffering from severe stomach issues. X-rays and CT scans quickly revealed the bizarre contents of his stomach.

Doctors initially attempted to remove the items using an endoscopy, but this failed due to the sheer volume of objects inside.

An emergency operation became necessary. The challenging surgery was led by Dr Shyam Kumar.

The doctors worked carefully to prevent injury to vital organs. Dr Shyam Kumar described the moment he saw the items as "shocking".

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“Dr Shyam Kumar described the moment as 'shocking' because of the sheer number of items.”

In total, 50 objects were successfully removed during the procedure.

The Circumstances in Rehab

The patient’s family had sent him to the de-addiction centre. However, his time there was marked by profound frustration. Sachin felt mistreated and deprived.

He reported that patients were fed very small amounts of food. He claimed they were often given only "very few vegetables and just a few chapatis”.

It was this anger and helplessness that drove him to self-injury.

The enraged man would steal steel spoons. He would take them to the bathroom. There, he broke the spoons into pieces.

He would place the pieces in his mouth and push them down his throat. Sometimes he used water to help swallow the objects.

Psychological Distress and Recovery

Medical experts suggest that such behaviour is linked to psychological issues. Swallowing non-food items can be a sign of deep distress. Doctors often refer to this condition as a form of pica or an impulse-control disorder.

“Such problems often occur in people with psychological problems,” said Dr Shyam Kumar.

The patient later confirmed that he began swallowing objects to harm himself. It was a desperate act driven by his agitation and feelings of helplessness.

This type of extreme case is not entirely unprecedented in the region. Hindustan Times reported a similar incident in 2022 in UP’s Muzaffarnagar.

In that case, 63 spoons were recovered from a patient who was a drug addict.

Despite the complexity of the recent operation, it was successful. The patient was discharged soon after and is now stable and recovering. The case has highlighted the serious need for better mental health care and empathy in rehabilitation facilities.