In Ryazan, a man accidentally swallowed a fish bone, it caused a liver abscess

An ordinary dinner with fish almost turned into a tragedy for a 77-year-old resident of Ryazan. The man accidentally swallowed a sharp bone and did not notice it. After some time, a foreign object provoked severe purulent inflammation in the abdomen and liver.

The pensioner entered the reception department of the Ryazan OKB with complaints of pain in the upper abdomen and a temperature of up to 38 degrees. Examination by FGD did not reveal serious pathologies, and ultrasound showed the accumulation of fluid under the liver and the presence of two abscesses in its left lobe. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis, and computed tomography with contrasting allowed to accurately determine the localization of a foreign body, the press service of the Ryazan OKB reported.

At the site of formation of abdominal abscess was fish bone. As it turned out, shortly before the onset of symptoms, the pensioner ate fish, but did not notice that he swallowed a bone.

The operation was carried out by the head of the department of purulent surgery Igor Kondrus, he was assisted by the attending physician Sanasar Kocharyan. Surgeons excised the abscess and removed the affected part of the organ. In the center of the inflammatory infiltrate, a thin fish bone was found.

Igor Kondrus explained that the sharp bone is not digested in the stomach. Under the influence of its contractions, it gradually damages the wall of the organ. A small hole can be closed by neighboring tissues, so the characteristic signs of peritonitis do not appear immediately.

In this case, the bone went beyond the stomach, moved into the ligament between it and the liver, causing severe inflammation, which then spread to the liver.

Doctors explained that older people may not notice swallowed fish bone due to a decrease in the sensitivity of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and esophagus.

“Be careful with fish, especially bone. Take your time while eating. Carefully remove the bones if you cook for elderly relatives or children, warned Igor Kondrus.