A 31-year-old man in Vietnam underwent emergency surgery after a two-foot-long eel chewed through his colon. The incident, reported by Viet Duc University Hospital in Hanoi, involved the man intentionally inserting the eel into his anus, along with a lemon. The bizarre case highlights the dangers of inserting foreign objects into the rectum.
Doctors at Viet Duc University Hospital detailed the shocking case in late July 2024. The patient, originally from India, presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain. He admitted to having inserted the large eel into his anus, and imaging tests confirmed its presence. Initially, doctors attempted a colonoscopy to remove the eel rectally, but discovered a lemon lodged inside as well, seemingly intended to prevent the eel’s escape.
As the man’s pain intensified, emergency abdominal surgery became necessary. Surgeons discovered the eel, measuring approximately two feet long and four inches in diameter, had burrowed through the colon and entered the abdominal cavity. They successfully extracted both the eel and the lemon and repaired the damaged colon. However, due to fecal contamination in the abdominal cavity, surgeons opted to remove a portion of the upper colon to prevent further leakage from the sutured area.
While the hospital’s report doesn’t explain the man’s motivation, it notes that some individuals, particularly young men, may seek unusual sexual gratification through inserting objects into the anus. Remarkably, this wasn’t the first such incident reported in Vietnam this year. In March, another hospital treated a man who had an eel removed from his abdomen, also likely having entered through the anus. A similar case was reported in Hong Kong two decades prior.
Le Nhat Huy, deputy director of the Center for Colon and Rectal Surgery at Viet Duc University Hospital, explained that eels can survive in anaerobic (oxygen-free) environments for extended periods and are capable of perforating the digestive tract. He strongly cautioned against inserting eels or any other foreign objects into the rectum, emphasizing the unpredictable and potentially dangerous consequences.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with inserting foreign objects into the rectum. Such actions can lead to serious complications, including perforation of the intestinal wall, infection, and the need for extensive surgical intervention.
