Surgeons remove 29 spoons, 19 toothbrushes, and other objects from man's stomach in Uttar Pradesh

Surgeons at a hospital in Hapur removed 29 steel spoons, 19 toothbrushes, and two sharp pens from the stomach of a 40-year-old man from Bulandshahr during a rare and complex surgery on September 17. This was reported by TOI. The man was admitted after suffering severe abdominal pain. He had been at a de-addiction centre in Ghaziabad a month earlier.

Psychological condition linked to swallowing non-food items

Doctors explained that the man’s ingestion of multiple objects is associated with a psychological disorder where individuals compulsively swallow non-food items. After surgery, the man said he felt mistreated and deprived of food at the rehabilitation centre, which caused anger and helplessness. To cope with his distress, he began swallowing objects as a form of self-harm, as reported by TOI.

Medical experts identified this behaviour as a form of pica or an impulse-control disorder, often triggered by trauma, mental illness, or severe stress. This case highlights concerns about mental health care in rehabilitation facilities.

Surgical procedure and outcome

An ultrasound revealed numerous metallic objects in the patient’s stomach, prompting an urgent surgical intervention led by Dr Shyam Kumar. The operation involved careful removal of each item to avoid damage to vital organs. Dr Kumar described the volume of objects as shocking. Despite the challenges, the surgery was successful. By the following Thursday, the man was discharged and is now stable and recovering.

(With inputs from TOI)