Wolfson Doctors Extract Lodged Fish Bone in Emergency Surgery

A 70-year-old man was rushed to the emergency department at Wolfson Medical Center after experiencing severe chest pain and increasing difficulty swallowing following a fish meal. An urgent CT scan revealed a sharp, long fish bone lodged deeply in the esophageal wall. Thanks to a swift multidisciplinary intervention in the operating room, the medical team successfully extracted the bone intact without causing any esophageal tears, and the patient was discharged home the very next day.

Delayed Initial Diagnosis and Urgent Intervention

The symptoms began a few hours after the meal, including acute chest pain, dysphagia, and intense discomfort. Although the patient initially sought medical attention in the emergency room, the initial examination failed to detect a foreign body in the upper throat. Persistent symptoms prompted physicians to order an urgent CT scan, which clearly revealed the bone embedded in the esophagus—a finding that required immediate action to prevent severe infectious complications in the chest cavity.

Complex Extraction Under General Anesthesia

Dr. Tamar Shalev, a senior physician at the Gastroenterology Institute at Wolfson Medical Center, explained the decision to transfer the patient directly to the operating room:

When dealing with a sharp foreign body in the upper esophagus, every second counts. The patient was rushed directly to the operating room, where it was decided to induce artificial ventilation (intubation) to protect the airways from the sharp bone during extraction.

During a gastroscopy procedure, the team successfully identified and removed the bone intact using precise maneuvering. Following the procedure, the patient was transferred for observation to the ear, nose, and throat department, recovering swiftly.

Medical Warning on Post-Meal Symptoms

Following the incident, Dr. Shalev urged the public to remain vigilant regarding symptoms appearing after consuming fish or meat, such as swallowing difficulties, pain, and excessive salivation. She emphasized that standard chest X-rays typically fail to detect fish bones, making professional medical evaluation and timely emergency visits life-saving.