Accidental swallowing of a Fixed bridge
in the Trachea: Report of Two Cases

Toshio Yokobayashi, Takeshi Shimizu,
Hideki Goto, Hiroyuki Kano

Department of Oral Surgery, Nagano Red Cross Hospital
(Chief: Toshio Yokobayashi)


Abstract: Accidental swallowing or aspiration of dentures, cast objects and dental instruments often occur during dental treatment. Most of them are swallowed in the stomach. On occasion, however they are swallowed in the trachea.
        Two cases with accidental swallowing of a fixed bridge in the trachea were reported.
        Case 1, A 72-year-old man accidentally swallowed a 6543| fixed bridge during its removal. He had a paroxysmal cough. A chest radiograph showed a left bronchial foreign body.
        Case 2, A 89-year-old man accidentally swallowed a |4567 fixed bridge during its removal. The accident was accompanied by no sign indicative of aspiration into the airway. However, a chest radiograph showed it to be lodged in the right bronchus.
        The fixed bridges in the bronchus were removed by bronchoscopic procedures on the day of the accident without any complication.
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