Fiberoptic Bronchoscopic Removal of Dental Crown Dropped in Bronchus During Dental Treatment

Takanori Ayabe*¹, Masaki Tomita¹, Ryo Maeda¹, Kosuke Mori¹ and Kunihide Nakamura²

Received: November 15, 2018;   Published: December 10, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.11.002167

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Abstract

Background: Aspiration and ingestion of foreign bodies are rare and risky complication during dental procedure. For a metal paradium with a very smooth surface stuck in the lower endobronchus, it was difficult to grasp and remove. Fortunately, we could remove it by a minimally invasive technique by flexible bronchoscopy.

Case Report: A 57-year old male diagnosed with schizophrenia had been treated for tooth decay. During covering a dental crown, the palladium was dropped in the oral space. As he had a continuous cough, the dental crown was suspected to be aspirated, thus he was transferred to a hospital. Chest radiography showed an artifact in the left lower lung field, which showed a foreign metal body in the left basal segmental bronchus of B9 of the lung. An endobronchial foreign body was diagnosed, and endoscopic removal was needed as the first step before surgical removal. Under airway anesthesia, a flexible bronchoscopy was guided to the stuck dental crown in the B9 bronchus, which was successfully removed by grasping with alligator forceps.

Conclusion: The removal of a foreign body by a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy can be performed in minimally invasive and safety modality as a first choice in order to avoid surgical removal.

Keywords :Dental Crown; Flexible Bronchoscopy; Removal; Alligator Forceps