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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Be careful if you swallow a fish bone, it is possible that it represents a health risk. This is the case for this fifties, who almost died after swallowing one… The explanations of Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
Beware of fish bones which can be dangerous if swallowed. Doctissimo enlightens you.
A fishbone punctures a pulmonary vein
This is the unfortunate experience that happened to a 51-year-old man, a fortunately rare case, but which was nevertheless the subject of a publication in the European Heart Journal. The 50-year-old, after swallowing a fish bone, did not feel bad immediately but two weeks later. It was while going to the emergency room for a fever that he tested positive for staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium responsible for his fever.
While swallowing his fish, a bone got stuck in the man’s esophagus, without him realizing it. This made a breach, which allowed the bacteria to pass into the mediastinum, which is the middle space of the thorax.
“The mediastinum is a space that contains the trachea in front, the esophagus behind and the heart. By getting stuck, this ridge created an opening in the mediastinum and the bacteria could infiltrate it, thus causing mediastinitis. confirms Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo. “Subsequently, this ridge touched a pulmonary vein and became embedded there in some way”. A breach or tear in the esophagus usually causes chest pain, difficulty breathing, and fever raising fears of mediastinitis.
What support is needed?
In this particular case, the man did not realize that he had swallowed this bone. “It is indeed the trap. The scanner was therefore essential to understand where these chest pains came from. He was then operated on to remove the bone, which still measured 25 mm” adds the doctor. “He was also prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection in the mediastinum.” concludes Gérald Kierzek.
A story that ends well, but not sure that the 50-year-old is eating fish anytime soon…