A 45‑year‑old man from Ninh Binh Province swallowed a razor blade while eating instant noodles, and his case attracted medical attention. The story shows how a seemingly ordinary meal can turn into a life‑threatening emergency.

After the incident, the man felt a sore throat and chest pain. A CT scan revealed the razor blade lodged in his esophagus at the second‑third thoracic vertebrae (D2‑D3) level, with air leaking into the mediastinum and the lower neck. The scan also showed swelling of the surrounding esophageal walls.

Doctors performed an endoscopic removal under general anesthesia, using endotracheal intubation in an operating room. The blade had pierced both walls of the upper third of the esophagus, so the team had to maneuver the endoscope very precisely; the whole procedure lasted about 90 minutes. While the patient was still under anesthesia, a gastrointestinal team also created a gastrostomy and a jejunostomy.

Doctors warned that an untreated esophageal perforation could cause mediastinitis, a mediastinal abscess, major surgery, prolonged intensive care, or death. These risks make prompt treatment essential.

The case highlights the serious health danger of swallowing sharp objects and the complex medical steps needed to repair an esophageal perforation. Quick diagnosis and skilled endoscopic surgery can prevent the severe complications doctors described.