Denture Impaction in the Oesophagus: Treatment Protocol and Review of Literature

Abstract

Foreign body ingestion is one of the most common clinical scenarios encountered in emergency medicine. Swallowing is more common than aspiration. Prompt diagnosis and management can prevent morbidity and mortality among these cases. Proper history, careful examination, and early removal of the foreign body are important to minimize the complications. Herein, we reported a 45-year-old male who presented to our emergency department with complaints of missing denture for the past 5 days with progressive dysphagia. X-ray of a soft tissue neck was normal and was not showing any foreign body. Subsequently, the impacted denture was removed using rigid oesophagoscopy. The diagnosis of the denture in the oesophagus may be difficult because of the radiolucency nature of the denture. So strong suspicion should be made by an emergency physician when the patients are presenting with missing dentures. To prevent accidental ingestion, dentures should be made to fit properly. A high clinical index of suspicion is warranted while managing these cases.