A 60-year-old Sharjah resident, Unnikrishnan Sivaraman, recently endured a harrowing two-month ordeal after accidentally inhaling a milkfish bone. Following the initial incident in early July, which caused immediate distress and coughing up blood, Sivaraman sought help but continued to suffer from persistent chest congestion and breathing difficulties. It wasn't until a CT scan revealed the object was deeply embedded in his right main bronchus that doctors realized the severity of the situation; the bone had remained lodged for weeks, causing significant inflammation and the growth of granulation tissue around the blockage.

The extraction process was a complex, multi-disciplinary effort, as the bone’s sharp edges posed a serious risk of internal injury. A team of specialists, including pulmonologists and ENT experts, carefully coordinated a procedure using a bronchoscope to shift the bone before extracting it with forceps while meticulously protecting the patient's vocal cords. The surgery was a success, and Sivaraman was discharged shortly after, reporting a complete recovery and a significant improvement in his respiratory health. The medical team highlighted that the case serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by foreign objects in the airway, especially when they go undetected for an extended period.