On 26/11, doctors at Huu Nghi Hospital successfully removed a foreign body via endoscopy. The object, a smooth, stainless steel dental tool, measured 2,5 cm long with a maximum diameter of 1 cm, was deeply lodged in the patient's right bronchus.

Metal foreign body deeply lodged in the airway. Photo: Supplied by Hospital

The patient had sought medical attention due to a persistent cough that had progressively worsened. He reported undergoing a dental implant procedure two weeks prior at a private clinic. During the procedure, the dentist informed him that a tool had been dropped, but its location could not be determined. Upon returning home, he began experiencing a mild cough, which gradually intensified.

The endoscopy team faced a difficult challenge given the foreign body's size, slippery surface, and deep impaction. Doctors exercised extreme caution to avoid tearing the bronchus, causing bleeding, or pushing the tool further down. After its successful extraction, the medical team irrigated the area to clean out pus and residual blood. The patient's health is now stable.

Doctor Nguyen Tien Dung, Head of the Respiratory - Allergy Department, emphasized that a metal foreign body from a dental tool is a rare but high-risk incident. Untreated, such an object can lead to airway obstruction, pneumonia, lung abscess, and even life-threatening respiratory failure.

The foreign body, a metal dental tool, after removal. Photo: Supplied by Hospital

Annually, the Respiratory - Allergy Department handles various common airway foreign body cases, including peanuts, fish bones, and food fragments. Doctor Dung urged dentists to strictly adhere to safety protocols, employing gauze barriers or airway protection devices during procedures. He also advised the public to choose reputable dental facilities. Should symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, or a sensation of something lodged in the throat arise after dental work, immediate medical consultation is crucial to rule out the presence of a foreign body.

Thuy Quynh