VIỆT YÊN, VIETNAM – A man’s embarrassing toilet accident almost proved fatal after he inserted a bidet sprayer head into his rectum and could not remove it.
An estimated 38-year-old Vietnamese man was admitted to the emergency room of Việt Yên General Hospital with severe pain, accompanied by family members. The entire bidet nozzle had penetrated so deeply that it became lodged at the junction between the rectum and the large intestine. Initial attempts by the man and his family to dislodge the object proved futile, exacerbating the situation.
“One of the most difficult cases I have ever had”
Dr. Trần Minh Phương, hospital director and oncology specialist, shared his distress on Facebook. He described the case as one of the most challenging he had encountered. An X-ray revealed the extent of the problem. The sprayer head featured a rigid metal edge and a protruding lever for water regulation, which had dangerously snagged on the intestinal wall.
“This is one of the most difficult cases I have ever experienced.”
said Dr. Trần Minh Phương.
Danger to life due to gross self-manipulation
Any further forceful attempts to extract the nozzle could have led to catastrophic consequences. The lever risked tearing the intestinal wall, potentially causing perforation, severe internal bleeding, and an immediate life-threatening condition. The medical team deemed the case highly complex and abandoned the idea of retrieving the foreign object through the anus.
Two hours to salvation
Instead, the decision was made for an abdominal surgery to allow for controlled examination of internal organs and safe removal of the object. After approximately two hours in the operating room, the ordeal concluded. Surgeons successfully removed the bidet sprayer head without causing a bowel perforation. The patient is no longer in life-threatening danger and is currently recovering in the hospital ward.
“This is one of the most difficult cases I have ever experienced.”
said Dr. Trần Minh Phương.
The patient was fortunate that his family’s improper removal attempts did not already result in a tear. Doctors issued a strong warning against attempting to remove stuck foreign bodies in the anus oneself, emphasizing the extreme sensitivity of these organs and the high risk of perforation from even minor errors. In the worst-case scenario, a colostomy may have been necessary to temporarily or permanently divert stool through the abdominal wall. The clear message from medical professionals is to seek immediate medical attention rather than attempting embarrassing self-removal.