Incident Overview

In a bizarre and alarming incident, a 51-year-old man in Japan found himself fighting for his life when a foldable chair he was sitting on collapsed, impaling him with a nearby metal pipe. The shocking accident occurred in the comfort of his own home, turning an ordinary day into a life-and-death situation.

Chaos After the Collapse

The man was seated on a flimsy chair when it gave way, causing him to fall onto a rigid pipe that penetrated his anus. For an agonizing hour, he lay on the bathroom floor bleeding and in shock before a family member stumbled upon him and urgently called for medical help. When paramedics arrived, they found him in a state of distress, having lost a significant amount of blood.

Medical Intervention

Upon arrival at the hospital, medical professionals conducted a series of scans to assess the injuries, specifically targeting the iliac vein and artery, which are crucial for supplying blood to the lower body. Surgeons made an incision in his abdomen to further evaluate the damage. Thankfully, there was no active bleeding detected, and a hematoma, or blood collection, that had developed was stable, indicating that the situation was under control.

Injury Analysis

Remarkably, the impaled pipe narrowly missed puncturing a nearby artery—a potentially catastrophic consequence that could have led to rapid internal bleeding. However, it did breach the right iliac vein, a serious injury with a fatality rate ranging from 25 to 80 percent. Due to the distinct angle at which the pipe entered, the artery remained unharmed.

Post-Hospital Complications

While the details of whether the pipe remained lodged in the man's body upon arrival at the hospital were not disclosed, doctors proceeded with a colostomy—creating an opening in the abdomen to allow waste to pass safely. After an arduous 11-day hospital stay, he gradually regained the ability to walk and was eventually allowed to return home.

Recurrence of Health Issues

However, just four days post-discharge, the man's condition took another turn for the worse. He experienced significant swelling in his right leg and returned to the hospital, where CT scans revealed a blood clot in the right common iliac vein and a pulmonary embolism—an alarming complication where a clot travels to the lungs.

Treatment and Recovery

Health professionals administered a powerful intravenous blood thinner to reduce the risk of further clotting. The very next day, much to their surprise, the patient expressed a desire to leave the hospital, stating he could not endure the environment any longer. The doctors complied, sending him home with a prescribed oral blood thinner and scheduled follow-up appointments.

Conclusion

Fortunately, his recovery trajectory continued to improve; he diligently attended outpatient visits without any resurgence of leg swelling and was able to resume driving without complications. Regular monitoring of his blood markers confirmed that the blood clot and pulmonary embolism had not reoccurred. This incident highlights not only the unexpected dangers that lurk in everyday household items but also the resilience of the human body in the face of life-threatening situations.