Vizag man swallows dentures in sleep; extracted from lung by KIMS doctors

Visakhapatnam: A peculiar incident occurred in Visakhapatnam, where a man accidentally swallowed his dental set in his sleep, leading to it getting lodged in his lungs.

Here’s what happened: A 52-year-old employee from Visakhapatnam had received a fixed dental set about two to three years ago. Despite being designed to stay in place permanently, such sets can sometimes come loose. While he was sleeping, the dental set came off and, unknowingly, he swallowed it. It travelled to his right lung and got stuck in the middle section.

Dr CH Bharat, a consultant interventional pulmonologist at KIMS ICON Hospital, explained the situation: “Since the left lung was functioning fully and the upper and lower portions of the right lung were still active, the patient did not experience major breathing issues. However, the foreign object in the lung caused severe coughing, prompting the patient to seek medical attention.

After an X-ray and a CT scan, it was confirmed that the dental set was lodged in the right lung. Under general anaesthesia, we carefully removed it using a rigid bronchoscope. Since the dental set had metal components on both sides, there was a risk of injury to the lungs or airways during removal, which could cause bleeding. Fortunately, the removal was mostly smooth, and only a minor injury occurred near the oral cavity, which was immediately treated.”

Importance of maintenance of dental appliances

Dr Bharat emphasised the importance of proper maintenance of such dental appliances: “Medical devices or objects placed inside the body have a certain lifespan and may degrade over time. Regular follow-ups with specialists are essential to ensure their condition. For those with dental sets, regular consultations with dentists are crucial. If such objects are accidentally swallowed and remain inside the body for an extended period, they may cause complications like infections or tissue growth around the object.”

This incident serves as a reminder for anyone using dental sets or similar devices to monitor their condition regularly and consult healthcare professionals as needed.