Not all hospitals have emergency rooms where fish spines can be removed. Generally, tertiary care hospitals have an inpatient ENT department, and the doctor on duty at the inpatient department at night can remove fish spines in an emergency. Some hospitals with good conditions will have a specialized ENT doctor on duty in the emergency department, who can also remove fishbone in emergency. Some second-tier hospitals or township hospitals may not have an ear, nose, and throat specialist and may not be able to remove a fishbone as a matter of urgency.
If a fishbone is lodged, it is recommended to stop eating immediately and cough or induce vomiting to see if the fishbone can be expelled on its own. If this does not work, it is recommended that you go to a hospital that has the necessary resources. Indirect laryngoscopy or electronic laryngoscopy can be used to detect the fishbone and remove it.
Not all hospitals are equipped to remove a fishbone in an emergency. Especially if the fishbone is stuck at night, it is not recommended to swallow food such as rice balls or steamed buns to avoid squeezing the fishbone deeper. You can fast and wait until the next day for an electronic laryngoscopy and removal of the fishbone during the day.