Delhi Man Consumes 39 Coins And 37 Magnets; Here's Why

A 26-year-old man at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi found himself in a strange situation after ingesting 39 coins and 37 magnets after believing that zinc helps in body-building.

The patient, who reportedly suffers from a psychiatric illness, arrived at the hospital”s emergency ward with complaints of persistent vomiting and abdominal pain lasting over 20 days, along with an inability to eat anything.

Upon examination, it was revealed that the patient had been consuming coins and magnets for several weeks, as disclosed by his family, prompting further investigation.

An x-ray of the patient”s abdomen uncovered a “hidden treasure” of coins and magnets, causing intestinal blockage. Subsequent CT scans confirmed the accumulation, requiring immediate surgery.

During the surgery, doctors discovered two separate loops of coins and magnets in the small intestine, which had become entangled due to the magnetic effect, leading to erosion. Coins and magnets were removed from the intestines and both the loops were rejoined by two anastomoses, a surgical connection. On inspecting the patient’s stomach, the doctors found 39 coins (Rs 1, 2 and 5) and 37 magnets of several shapes, including heart, spherical, star, triangle and bullet, were found.

Following a successful procedure and a week-long hospital stay, the patient was discharged in healthy condition. Dr Tarun Mittal, Dr Vikram Singh (clinical assistant), Dr Ashish Dey and Dr Anmol Ahuja (consultants), and Dr Tanushree and Dr Karthik (residents) were the team of doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital involved in this operation.

The man claimed that he had ingested the coins and magnets because he believed in benefits of zinc for body-building. He believed that consuming the magnets would ensure the coins, which contained zinc, stayed in the intestine, facilitating zinc absorption.