What should I do if I get stuck in a fish bone

Getting stuck in fish bones can be resolved through coughing, forceps retrieval, medical treatment, and other methods. Fish bone sticking in the throat is usually caused by eating too quickly, chewing insufficiently, and small and sharp fish bones.

1. Cough Discharge

If the fishbone is stuck in a shallow position in the throat, try coughing hard and using air flow to bring the fishbone out. When coughing, lean forward and use your abdomen to generate impact force, avoiding excessive force that may damage the mucous membrane. This method is suitable for fish bones that are small and not deeply penetrated into tissues. If coughing several times is ineffective, the attempt should be stopped.

2. When using clean tweezers to pick up visible fish bones, it is necessary to operate under sufficient lighting conditions. The person being stuck needs to keep their mouth wide open and remain still. The operator uses a tongue depressor to press down on the base of their tongue, quickly and accurately gripping the exposed part of the fishbone and pulling it out. Do not blindly dig and cause the fish bones to shift. If the operation is difficult, seek medical attention immediately.

3. Medical treatment

Otolaryngologists will use laryngoscopes to locate fish bones and use professional instruments to remove deep fish bones. For fish bones stuck in the esophagus, gastroscopy or imaging examination may be necessary, and in severe cases, endoscopic surgery may be required to remove them. Children or those with symptoms such as difficulty breathing and vomiting blood need emergency treatment.

4. Eating too quickly

Hastily swallowing fish meat that has not been fully chewed is a common cause, especially freshwater fish such as crucian carp and silver carp with small spines. It is recommended to focus on eating fish and separate the fish meat from the bones before consumption. Elderly and children are advised to choose sea fish or fish belly parts with fewer bones.

5. Sharp fish spines

The Y-shaped slender spines of some fish are prone to getting stuck in the tonsils or tongue folds. When cooking, the fish can be cut horizontally to reduce the sharp ends of the fibers. Do not swallow or drink vinegar with Rice and vegetable roll after being stuck. These methods may cause the fish bones to stick deeper or scratch the esophageal mucosa.

One should develop a habit of chewing slowly in daily life, and pay attention to removing small fish bones when dealing with fish. If the fishbone gets stuck in the throat for more than two hours without relief, or if symptoms such as chest pain and fever occur, it may indicate complications such as esophageal perforation. It is necessary to immediately go to the hospital's otolaryngology or emergency department for treatment. It is recommended to eat warm and cool liquid food within 24 hours after removing the fish bones to avoid spicy stimulation that may worsen mucosal damage.