Sword swallowers are more likely to sustain an injury – such as
a perforation of the oesophagus – if they are distracted or are
using multiple or unusual swords, finds a study in this week's
Christmas issue of the BMJ. Sword swallowers who can swallow a
non-retractable solid steel blade at least two centimetres wide
and 38 centimetres long are recognised by the SSAI (Sword
Swallowers' Association International). Despite the obvious
dangers of the profession, English medical literature contains
only two case reports of injury resulting from sword swallowing.
The authors set out to explore the techniques and side-effects
of sword swallowing. Forty-six SSAI members took part in the
study, 19 had experienced sore throats whilst learning, many had
suffered lower chest pain following some performances, and six
had suffered perforation of the pharynx and oesophagus, one
other was told a sword had 'brushed' the heart. The research
found that these injuries occurred either when swallowers used
multiple or unusual swor