So they were stunned to find the toothpick, Scheid said. The doctors had not seen it on the scans. And the patient hadnâ€™t remembered any odd sensations while eating, when doctors had taken his history.
As soon as the doctors removed the toothpick, blood began to spurt from the artery. It was life-threatening, and they could not stop it. Several operations would be needed to save the young manâ€™s life.
â€œItâ€™s important to put these things in perspective,â€ he said.