A man from China underwent surgery to remove a 12cm-long metal chopstick that had been stuck in his throat for eight years after it began to cause him significant pain. The surgery was performed on the man, named Wang, at the Central Hospital of Dalian in Liaoning province in northeastern China in early March, according to the Daxiang News. According to the newspaper, the man had accidentally swallowed the chopstick while eating eight years ago. Doctors confirmed that his vocal cords were functioning normally. After Wang refused to have an incision made in his neck, doctors performed a minimally invasive surgery through his mouth to remove the stuck object. The metal chopstick was finally extracted successfully, with only minor bleeding occurring during the procedure. Wang recovered well and was discharged from the hospital after a few days. The pain would intensify when he swallowed and would subside with rest, which prompted him to visit the Dalian Hospital. Dr. Huang Weiping from the hospital was quoted as saying: "He told us a chopstick was stuck in his throat. I thought it had just happened, but he said it was eight years ago." An examination revealed the metal chopstick in Wang's soft palate. Fortunately, the surrounding mucous membranes were not damaged, and the related organs had not shifted from their position.