Doctors at the Lukhovitsk hospital in the Moscow region faced a challenging case when an elderly resident arrived with signs of an intestinal blockage after swallowing a pig’s ear. The incident was confirmed by the regional Ministry of Health, which reported that the patient’s condition had deteriorated before she received medical attention. In such situations, prompt assessment and timely surgical planning are crucial to prevent complications and improve recovery prospects.
A 60-year-old woman presented at the emergency department of Lukhovitskaya hospital with abdominal pain that radiated across her midsection. Initial examinations revealed an intestinal obstruction, a condition that can rapidly worsen if not treated. The clinical team determined that the patient’s state was not stable enough for nonoperative measures and proceeded with a surgical intervention to relieve the blockage and prevent further deterioration.
During the operation, surgeons identified a dense obstruction in a segment of the small intestine. To address it effectively, they made an incision near the inflamed portion of the intestine and carefully removed the obstructing material—an ingested piece of pig’s ear that the patient had swallowed while eating without thoroughly chewing. The discovery underscored how seemingly minor items can pose major health risks when swallowed, especially in older adults who may have reduced swallowing coordination or other comorbidities.
The procedure lasted a little over two hours. After successful relief of the obstruction, the patient recovered in the postoperative period and was discharged for outpatient follow-up. She was advised to follow a strict diet and to chew food thoroughly in the future to reduce the risk of recurrence and to support smoother digestion during the recovery process.
In a related health note from the region, clinicians continue to emphasize the importance of early recognition for suspected intestinal obstruction and the value of timely surgical consultation when conservative measures are unlikely to succeed. Cases like this reinforce the need for careful eating habits, particularly among older adults, and highlight the role of medical teams in making rapid decisions that can avert serious complications. [citation] Also noted were general guidelines on managing foreign body ingestion, including when to seek emergency care and how to monitor post-procedure recovery to ensure a safe return to normal activities.