Doctors shocked as they remove 29 spoons and 19 toothbrushes from patient’s stomach

A 40-year-old man from Hapur, India, shocked medical staff at Devnandani Hospital after scans revealed dozens of foreign objects, including spoons, toothbrushes, and pens, inside his abdomen.

He was admitted on September 17 with complaints of severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and weakness, prompting doctors to perform ultrasound, X-ray, and CT scans.

To their astonishment, the imaging showed numerous metallic and plastic objects lodged in his stomach, making it one of the most unusual cases the medical team had encountered.

A surgical team led by Dr. Shyam Kumar performed a five-hour-long operation during which they removed 50 objects, including 29 steel spoons, 19 toothbrushes, and two pens.

Remarkably, the man had broken off the heads of both the toothbrushes and spoons before swallowing them, which added complexity to the surgical procedure.

The patient later confessed that he had intentionally ingested the items while staying at a de-addiction centre in Ghaziabad, as a form of protest against being left there.

He admitted to secretly picking up the objects and swallowing them in the washroom, driven by emotional distress and frustration.

Doctors believe the man may be suffering from pica disorder, a rare psychiatric condition where individuals compulsively consume non-food items, sometimes due to stress or mental health issues.

Although pica is more frequently observed in children, experts note that adults under psychological distress or battling addiction may also develop this compulsive behavior.

Following the surgery, the patient is currently under close medical and psychiatric observation, with doctors emphasizing the need for ongoing mental health support to prevent recurrence.