The denture that was stuck in the man’s food pipe

NEW DELHI: A routine meal turned into a medical emergency when a man accidentally swallowed his denture—only for it to get lodged deep inside his food pipe, leaving him in severe distress. In a complex, high-risk procedure, doctors at a private hospital used a laser-assisted endoscopic technique to remove it, avoiding the need for major surgery.The patient, a 45-year-old vegetable seller from Rampur near Moradabad, arrived gasping, with intense throat pain and difficulty swallowing. Scans revealed the dental plate stuck at the cricopharynx—an extremely sensitive junction between the food pipe and windpipe—where its sharp metallic clasps risked tearing the esophagus. This narrow, rigid area is a common site where foreign bodies get impacted.“This was one of the most difficult foreign bodies we have encountered,” said Dr Anil Arora, Chairman, Institute of Liver, Gastroenterology and Pancreaticobiliary Sciences, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “Conventional tools like forceps or snares could have caused serious injury.”Foreign bodies — such as coins, dentures, button batteries, pins or even fish and meat bones — are not digested and may not pass naturally. Sharp objects can injure or perforate the gastrointestinal tract, while some may slip into the windpipe, causing breathing problems or serious lung infections.The patient was unable to swallow or expel the object. Endoscopy confirmed the denture was firmly lodged, and standard removal methods were deemed unsafe due to the risk of injury.After initial attempts failed, the team switched strategy. Using a precision laser under endoscopic guidance, doctors broke the denture into smaller fragments inside the esophagus. A protective over tube was then deployed to shield the inner lining as each piece was removed in a controlled manner.“The laser allowed controlled fragmentation, while the over tube prevented damage from sharp edges,” said Shrihari Anikhindi, consultant gastroenterologist. “This helped us avoid open surgery, which carries significant risks and longer recovery.”The laser used relies on a focused, high-energy beam — often using a holmium source — allowing precise fragmentation without damaging surrounding tissue. This approach helped avoid complications such as airway obstruction or perforation, which can lead to deep neck infections.Doctors say commonly seen foreign bodies include fish or chicken bones, dentures and even broken toothbrush parts, and stress that early medical attention is critical.The patient recovered without complications—turning what could have been a life-threatening situation into a showcase of minimally invasive innovation, said doctors. EOM