LUSAKA - Doctors at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital have successfully removed a plastic bottle top from a man in his late 40s after he accidentally swallowed it while trying to open a soft drink with his teeth.
The incident occurred on June 13, when the man, who is from Eastern Province, realised something was wrong after he became unable to swallow, even water.
An initial X-ray failed to detect the foreign object, prompting doctors to carry out further investigations.
A CT scan later confirmed that the plastic bottle top was lodged in the patient's oesophagus, after which he was referred to Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital for specialised treatment.
Using advanced endoscopy techniques, doctors successfully removed the bottle top without the need for surgery.
The procedure was led by Dr. Bright Nsokolo, Head of Endoscopy at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital.
The successful intervention restored the patient's ability to swallow and prevented potentially serious complications.
The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of using teeth to open bottle caps and other sealed containers.