Two dentures were left in the lungs for over 20 years.

SKĐS - Two dentures fell into the airway and remained in the lungs for over 20 years, causing the patient to suffer from recurrent pneumonia. Only when hospitalized with fever, cough, and shortness of breath was this dangerous foreign object discovered and removed endoscopically.

Mr. Nguyen Duc H., 49 years old, residing in Da Nang City, was transferred from a lower-level hospital to Da Nang Hospital with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

According to the patient's medical history, Mr. H. had dentures made when he was 22 years old. A year later, the patient unfortunately lost two teeth, but the cause was not determined, and he did not seek specialist medical attention.

One of the two dentures after being removed from the bronchial tube. Photo: BVCC.

Over the following years, the patient began experiencing recurrent episodes of pneumonia 1-2 times per year, primarily self-treating with over-the-counter medications and not undergoing chest X-rays or further specialized hospital examinations.

Recently, the patient developed a persistent cough and fever, and upon examination at a lower-level hospital, a chest CT scan revealed a foreign object in the airway, suspected to be metal. The patient was then transferred to Da Nang Hospital for specialized treatment.

At Da Nang Hospital, after examination and consultation, doctors diagnosed a long-standing foreign object in the lung's airway.

According to Dr. Nguyen Ba Hung, Deputy Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine - Immunology and Allergy at Da Nang Hospital, because the foreign object had been left unattended for over 20 years, coupled with inflammation, consolidation, and lung collapse, the risk of the foreign object adhering tightly to the bronchial mucosa was very high. Therefore, the treatment team prioritized aggressive antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment to control infection, reduce edema, and limit complications during the intervention.

After the inflammation improved, the patient underwent bronchoscopy. The procedure revealed two dentures, which had been lodged in the bronchial tubes for a long time, as foreign objects.

The bronchoscopy team from the Department of Respiratory Medicine - Immunology and Allergy worked seamlessly, using specialized instruments to successfully remove the foreign object from the lung, ensuring the patient's absolute safety.

Following the endoscopy, the patient's respiratory condition improved significantly, the fever subsided, the cough decreased, and the patient was discharged from the hospital.

Doctor Nguyen Ba Hung advises that people need to be especially careful in their eating and daily activities, especially when holding small objects such as blister packs of medicine, nails, toothpicks, fruit seeds, etc., in their mouths. These foreign objects can easily enter the airways while talking, laughing, coughing, or sleeping, posing a danger to health.

If you suspect you have inhaled a foreign object or experience unusual symptoms such as persistent coughing, possibly coughing up blood, recurrent pneumonia, shortness of breath, or unexplained fever, you should go to a medical facility with a respiratory specialist for examination, X-ray, CT scan, and timely treatment. Don't be complacent, as a foreign object left in the airway for a long time can cause severe lung damage and potentially lead to many dangerous complications.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/hai-chiec-rang-gia-bi-bo-quen-trong-phoi-hon-20-nam-169251224170232251.htm