A 49-year-old man in China was hospitalised after inserting a data cable into his urethra out of curiosity, leaving the object trapped inside his bladder for more than seven hours.
The man, Huang (name transliterated from Mandarin), who is from Qinzhou City, eventually sought medical help after experiencing severe abdominal swelling, intense pain and difficulty urinating.
According to doctors at the First People’s Hospital of Qinzhou, Mr Huang had inserted the cable through his urethra but was unable to pull it back out.
A 3D pelvic CT scan revealed that the foreign object was an approximately 80cm-long data cable measuring around 6mm in diameter.
Source: 黄河新闻网吕梁 via Sohu
The cable had become coiled and tangled inside his bladder, blocking his urinary tract and narrowing the lower urethra.
This prevented him from urinating normally and caused increasing discomfort.
Doctors performed surgery to remove the cable and treat the blockage.
Source: 黄河新闻网吕梁 via Sohu
The procedure was successful, and the man has since recovered and been discharged from the hospital.
Following the incident, urology experts reminded the public about the importance of basic physiological education, healthy psychological habits and personal safety awareness.
Medical professionals said the urethra has a delicate inner lining containing sensitive mucous membranes and tiny blood vessels, making it highly vulnerable to injury.
They warned that forcibly inserting hard foreign objects such as charging cables or ropes can lead to serious complications, including acute bleeding, urethral tears, severe infections, urinary tract blockages, organ damage and long-term health problems.
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Featured image adapted from 黄河新闻网吕梁 via Sohu.