Vietnamese doctors removed 119 rusty nails from a mentally ill woman's stomach after she apparently swallowed them months ago, a doctor said on Friday.
The 43-year-old woman arrived on Wednesday at Hospital No. 121 in the southern city of Can Tho City, complaining of a severe stomachache.
"After having her stomach X-rayed and scanned, we found a stack of strange objects and decided to operate as soon as possible," said Dr. Tran Van Nam.
During the surgery, doctors removed 119 2.8 to 3.2-inch nails. Many were rusty, indicating they could have been in her stomach for months, Nam said.
The patient's stomach was scratched by the nails, but she did not suffer any major injuries, he said.
"Her life is not at risk now, and she is recovering," Nam said, adding the patient was expected to be discharged soon.