Woman awaits surgery after fishbone pierces artery

An X-ray reveals the fishbone that has pierced Guo's main artery as she awaits treatment at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province. Photo: Wuhan Evening News

A woman is still waiting for doctors in Wuhan to figure out how to remove a fishbone that had pierced a main artery to her heart.

ICU doctors at Tongji Hospital are working out a treatment plan for 52-year-old Guo Xiangzhi of Tianmen, Hubei Province after she swallowed a fishbone during a family meal nearly two weeks ago. Guo began suffering from intense pain and high fevers during next few days.

"My mother hasn't eaten anything for the past ten days, and has been relying on liquid nutrient supplements. She is very weak now," said Guo's daughter.

Guo had swallowed rice and drank water and vinegar in hopes of softening and dislodging the 2.7-centimeter long fishbone. Instead, it pierced a main artery above her heart.

She first sought at Wuhan Union Hospital (WUH), where doctors suggested undergoing a dangerous and expensive thoracotomy.

"This is an unusual operation with high risks," the WUH doctor Cheng Qing told the Wuhan Evening News, who estimates the procedure at at least about 300,000 yuan ($49,230). "This one is hard to say and may end with a failure," Cheng added.

"Both my parents are farmers and I only earn about 3,000 yuan a month. We can hardly afford the surgery," said Guo's daughter.

Guo received donations from concerned citizens following the news report as doctors scramble to figure out how to remove the bone.