Indian Man Accidentally Swallows 19-Centimeter Toothbrush in Rare Incident
An Indian rickshaw driver accidentally swallowed a 19-centimeter toothbrush while cleaning his tongue. Doctors successfully removed the object from his stomach using an endoscopic procedure without open surgery.
A routine morning hygiene ritual turned into a complex medical emergency for a 53-year-old Indian rickshaw driver, Rajendra Malusara, who accidentally swallowed an entire 19-centimeter toothbrush. The incident occurred on September 29 near Mumbai, though details were recently publicized by local media outlets.
According to Malusara, the accident happened while he was cleaning his tongue after brushing his teeth. The toothbrush suddenly slipped down his throat. Initial attempts by Malusara and his daughter to retrieve the object failed as it lodged deep within his digestive tract. The patient arrived at a hospital in Navi Mumbai three to four hours later, experiencing mild abdominal pain.
An endoscopic examination revealed that the full-length toothbrush was lying horizontally inside his stomach. A medical team led by Dr. Raosaheb Rathod performed a 30-minute minimally invasive procedure to extract the item. During the extraction, the toothbrush became stuck twice—first at the gastroesophageal junction and later near the throat. Doctors successfully adjusted the patient's position and removed the object intact without resorting to open surgery.
Malusara was discharged the same evening following follow-up checks that confirmed no damage to his esophagus. Medical professionals urged the public to exercise caution and seek immediate emergency care if foreign objects are swallowed, warning against self-treatment attempts.
