Dysphagia After Emergency Intubation: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

The authors present the case of a 62-year-old male who presented with dysphagia for 1 month after emergency intubation after sustaining a myocardial infarction. Subsequent clinical evaluation discovered an impacted partial denture as the source of this dysphagia. This case highlights clinically relevant issues regarding the multidisciplinary management of emergency intubation with subsequent dysphagia, the nature of dentures and their relevance to developmentally delayed individuals and an aging population. The diagnosis and management of impacted dentures involves valuable input from surgeons, physicians, radiologists and speech pathologists.

Delayed presentation of a small bowel perforation secondary to an ingested denture

“…However, eliciting a clear history in such cases is often not possible as many patients may present with alcohol intoxication, dementia, learning disabilities or in moribund conditions. 3 Accurate history taking, if possible, is paramount in attaining a clinical diagnosis prior to imaging. As highlighted by our review of similar cases, the presenting symptoms and time to presentation following denture ingestion can vary greatly (Table 1).…”

Delayed diagnosis of impacted partial denture in a patient with mental retardation

“…(3,11) In addition, unnoticed ingestion of objects of an odontogenic origin can occur during general anaesthesia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (12,13) In order to reach an early diagnosis, a cooperative, multidisciplinary approach is important. In addition to staff from the developmental centre or institution, family doctors and emergency room physicians should be highly suspicious of foreign body ingestion when a mentally challenged patient complains of medically unexplainable symptoms, including dysphagia, odynophagia and coughing, or refuses food.…”

Impact of Surgery on Impacted Dentures in the GIT -Case Series and Review of Literature

“…However, other authors have not found glucagon to be as reliable, with success rates between 29-50%. It is believed that use of smooth muscle relaxants/ promotility agents is contraindicated for removing all foreign bodies except food boluses [48].…”