Doctors in Vietnam have removed a pair of scissors that were in a man’s abdomen for 18 years, local newspapers reported.

Specialist surgeons flew from Hanoi to the province of Thai Nguyen in the country’s north, to perform a three-hour procedure on 54-year-old Ma Van Nhat.

Last month, Mr Ma had gone to the hospital for treatment after a road accident and an ultrasound test revealed a sharp instrument lying to the left of his stomach.

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper, Mr Ma had a second check in a hospital near his home province of Bac Kan, and tests confirmed he had a 15cm pair of surgical scissors next to his colon.

Vietnam Express cited Mr Ma telling Vietnam News Agency, that doctors probably left the scissors in his abdomen during an emergency surgery in 1998, after he was involved in another road accident.

He apparently did not suffer any pain during the 18 years, except for some recent stomach pain.

The Health Ministry has ordered Bac Kan General Hospital to account for the scissors it could have left inside the man nearly two decades ago. But doctors told Tuoi Tre newspaper that hospitals rarely keep patient records for more than 15 years.

Mr Ma is expected to leave the hospital for home next week.

– with other agencies