During the surgery, the blade was first located in the esophagus and extracted through the mouth with assistance from the ENT department. Cheng recalled that the blade was rusty.

Next, the nail was found in the small intestine, and a small incision was made to remove it.

The surgery lasted about three hours, leaving a 20-cm scar. After the operation, Cheng was kept in the hospital for seven days and recovered well. He was transferred back to the prison hospital on November 24 for further rehabilitation and fully recovered by December 2.

Additionally, Cheng's prison records show that he had a pre-existing condition: tuberculosis. An April 2002 medical exam diagnosed him with "infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis", which was treated before he was re-incarcerated.