What is it about?
In this case we reported a tooth Bridge that was inhaled during intubation for anesthesia prior to cardiac surgery. The tooth settled in the right lung and was complicated with severe pneumonia. The patient was discharged home after treatment of pneumonia. The patient continued to have bouts of coughing and shortness of breath for a period of six months. During an episode of a forceful cough the bridge teeth came finally out.This is very unique because of the long duration the foreign body stayed in the lung as well because of the spontaneous expulsion. In usual situations this will lead to death and serious complications if not removed immediately by bronchoscopy
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Why is it important?
In this case we reported a tooth Bridge that was inhaled during intubation for anesthesia prior to cardiac surgery. The tooth settled in the right lung and was complicated with severe pneumonia. The patient was discharged home after treatment of pneumonia. The patient continued to have bouts of coughing and shortness of breath for a period of six months. During an episode of a forceful cough the bridge teeth came finally out.This is very unique because of the long duration the foreign body stayed in the lung as well because of the spontaneous expulsion. In usual situations this will lead to death and serious complications if not removed immediately by bronchoscopy
Perspectives
Induction and encouragement of forcefull cough might be useful in spontaneous expulsion. Heavy antibiotics at the time of aspiration turned the tooth into a sterile foreign body hence limited the complications.
Dr Areeg El Tayeb
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A delayed spontaneous expulsion of a three teeth bridge after 6 months period of aspiration in the right lung following cardiac surgery, Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia, January 2015, Medknow,
DOI: 10.4103/1658-354x.154742.
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