Chicago ER doctor details the craziest object he’s removed from a patient’s rectum

An emergency physician in Chicago has shared the most unusual object he has removed from a patient’s rectum: a full desktop Yankee Candle jar, scented pumpkin spice. Dr. Kenji Oyasu, who treats patients with foreign bodies lodged in the rectum in a high-volume emergency department, described the incident in a video first posted to TikTok. He recalled that a couple had taken part in what they described as a late-night “crazy” moment and were unable to remove the item themselves. The patient eventually sought care after the object could not be dislodged.

Any large item retained in the rectum presents a challenge because conventional grasping can fail when a suction effect creates a vacuum that pulls objects back inward. Oyasu explained that the removal of substantial objects requires a controlled, operating-room–like approach: anesthetic and muscle relaxation to paralyze the patient, intubation, and mechanical ventilation as one would use during surgery. Only then can clinicians safely reach up past the anal canal to extract what is lodged inside. The goal is to minimize tissue injury and avoid fragmentation that could worsen the situation.

Oyasu noted that, once the candle was identified as a candle obstructing the exit, staff even placed bets on its scent profile. He said the team correctly guessed pumpkin spice, adding that the situation occurred in October, which helped the odds. He emphasized that the extraction was conducted with standard operating procedures for large foreign bodies, underscoring that such cases, while unusual, are not exceedingly rare in emergency medicine.

Raising awareness about foreign rectal bodies, the medical literature has documented thousands of annual cases. A 2023 study in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine estimates that nearly 4,000 people are hospitalized each year for foreign objects in the rectum. The study notes that the typical patient is around 43 years old, with men comprising about 78 percent of cases and roughly 40 percent of patients requiring hospitalization. The items vary widely, with more than half reported to be sexual objects, including vibrators or beads, while the remainder encompass less predictable objects. In one widely reported anecdote, a man required surgery after a can of deodorant became lodged in his rectum.

The breadth of cases extends beyond the United States. A 2022 report from France described a senior citizen who arrived with a World War I artillery shell lodged in his rectum, an incident that prompted partial evacuation of the hospital due to bomb-scare concerns. Medical teams increasingly emphasize rapid assessment and specialized extraction techniques to avoid complications such as perforation, infection, or bleeding.

The pattern of these cases—whether humorous or harrowing—highlights the human realities behind a subset of emergency medicine: patients presenting with objects inserted for sexual or prank purposes, or accidentally misplaced during intoxication or poor judgment. Clinicians advise that if a patient experiences persistent rectal discomfort, bleeding, or an object cannot be removed with gentle external manipulation, seeking prompt medical attention is essential. In many cases, timely intervention reduces the risk of complications and preserves function.

In public health terms, doctors stress education about safer alternatives and caution against inserting objects that are not designed for internal use. While the topic may elicit a mix of humor and discomfort, the bottom line remains clear: foreign bodies in the rectum require professional evaluation and, when necessary, a carefully controlled extraction performed by trained specialists in a monitored setting.

The broader context underscores a persistent reality for emergency departments: thousands of cases each year involve objects inserted into the rectum, spanning a wide range of sizes, shapes, and purposes. Clinicians continue to stress that, despite the occasional viral social media moment, there is no single or simple remedy for such occurrences. Rather, patient safety, careful technique, and adherence to medical guidelines drive outcomes in these high-stakes extractions, with patients recovering fully when treated promptly and appropriately.