[Christmas article: Unexpected complication during COVID-19 swabbing]

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic a vast number of oropharyngeal swabs have been sampled. A patient was referred to a surgical department after accidentially ingesting part of a testing swab. Since the swab posed a perforation risk, an urgent upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy was performed. It revealed no swab, and the patient was discharged to out-patient care. At two-week follow-up, the patient was well. The Covid-19 test, despite the hassle in obtaining it, was negative. Pointy object, magnets, and batteries should be removed urgently from the GI tract. If passed beyond the duodenum, individual approach is acceptable.