Surgeons pull a 30cm long live eel from man’s stomach

Shocked doctors conducted surgery to extract a live 30cm-long eel from a man's abdomen after it seemingly migrated up his rectum.

The 34-year-old patient from Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, sought medical attention due to severe abdominal cramps and stomach discomfort.

Medical examinations, including X-rays and ultrasounds, revealed a foreign object causing intestinal perforation and peritonitis, a dangerous inflammation of the abdomen lining.

Prompt surgical intervention was necessary to address the critical situation. During the operation, surgeons were astonished to find the live eel lodged inside the patient's abdomen.

The eel being removed from the man’s stomac

Graphic images depict medical personnel using tools to carefully remove the eel, measuring up to the length of a standard ruler, and excising damaged tissue from the intestines.

Despite the complexity of the procedure, the surgery proceeded smoothly, and the patient was swiftly stabilized post-surgery, experiencing only mild abdominal discomfort.

When questioned about the incident, the patient could not explain how the eel ended up inside him. Medical experts speculate that it may have entered through the anus, traversed the colon, and inadvertently entered the abdomen due to intestinal perforation.

The eel was 30cm, the length of a standard ruler

This rare and extraordinary case underscores the risks associated with intestinal perforation, particularly in areas prone to infection like the rectum. Doctor Pham Manh Hung emphasized the successful execution of the surgery despite the challenging circumstances.