ES Reporter
ITANAGAR, Sep 16: In a rare incident, doctors at the Bakin Pertin Memorial Hospital, Pasighat successfully removed a toothbrush from a man's stomach who had bizarrely swallowed it while brushing on Tuesday morning.
The patient is a resident of Roing, Lower Dibang Valley and his condition is stated to be fine, according to the surgeon Bomni Tayeng who along with a health assistant (Nurse) and anaesthetist removed the toothbrush in a 35-minute long surgical operation.
According to a WhatsApp message viral on social media circulated by Jt.DTS, Pasighat, Dr D Raina, the patient contacted Dr.Kabang Lego, a retired doctor of DFW, Assa Nursing Home Pasighat after he had swallowed the toothbrush on September 15 morning.
As he couldn't meet the doctor, he contacted Dr Bolut Taki, ENT specialist who carried out esophagoscopy, x-ray and blood test but could not locate the object properly. Later another surgeon, Dr.Bomni Tayeng was consulted, who suggested the patient get admitted at BPMH for laparotomy test. And next day, the team conducted the surgery and removed the toothbrush in just 35 minutes time.
"The patient must have been cleaning the wall around tooth cavities when he accidentally swallowed the toothbrush, " Tayeng said while admitting that he too was surprised by the incident.
The patient was not feeling any pain after ingesting the toothbrush and was experiencing minor discomfort in his upper abdomen, he told this daily.
"It took about 30- 35 minutes to operate upon him and take the toothbrush out from his abdomen. The patient is kept at the surgical ward in BPMH and his condition is completely alright," Dr Tayeng said.