Sharjah Resident’s Two‑Month Struggle Ends After Fish Bone Removed from Airway

Unnikrishnan Sivaraman, a 60‑year‑old Indian living in Sharjah, inhaled a milkfish bone on July 1, leading to persistent coughing, chest congestion and breathing trouble for more than two months.

Initial visits to emergency departments did not resolve his symptoms, and a CT scan later revealed a nearly 2 cm bone lodged in his right main bronchus, surrounded by inflamed tissue.

A multidisciplinary team performed a bronchoscopy on September 11, carefully extracting the bone using specialized forceps while protecting the vocal cords.

Following the procedure, Sivaraman’s breathing improved markedly and he was discharged in stable condition within hours.

Doctors emphasized that lingering respiratory issues after choking should prompt thorough investigation to avoid prolonged health problems.