Lost and Found: A Case Report of the Journey of Two Teeth Into the Bronchus After a Road Tragedy

Abstract

Traumatic foreign body aspiration (FBA) in adults is a rare yet potentially life-threatening event that requires prompt recognition and management to prevent adverse outcomes. While less common in adults compared to paediatric populations, traumatic FBA incidents often occur in occupational settings, posttrauma, or during high-risk activities, presenting with acute respiratory symptoms and varying degrees of airway obstruction. Diagnosis can be challenging due to the lack of classic symptoms and the potential for delayed presentation, necessitating a thorough history, a focused physical examination, and appropriate imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy. Prompt intervention is crucial to mitigating complications such as airway obstruction, pneumothorax, and respiratory compromise. Here, we describe an interesting case of a patient with a road traffic accident who aspirated two teeth and thought he lost them in this process. Surprisingly, two lost teeth were found after undergoing diagnostic procedures for mild shortness of breath, further causing aspiration pneumonitis.