Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital successfully removed a denture lodged deep inside a man’s food pipe using an advanced laser-assisted endoscopic technique, avoiding the need for major surgery, officials said on April 4.
The patient was admitted with severe breathing difficulty, throat pain, difficulty swallowing, and chest discomfort after accidentally swallowing his denture. It became stuck just below the junction of the food pipe and windpipe in the upper esophagus, a highly sensitive area.
Imaging showed the denture was firmly embedded, with sharp metallic clasps posing a serious risk of injury to the esophageal lining. Anil Arora, Chairman of the Institute of Liver, Gastroenterology and Pancreaticobiliary Sciences (ILGPS), described the case as extremely challenging, noting that conventional removal methods carried a high risk of damage.
After initial attempts failed, doctors used an alternative approach. Under endoscopic guidance, a laser was used to break the denture into smaller fragments, allowing it to be safely dislodged.
A protective overtube was inserted to shield the surrounding tissue from sharp edges during removal. Shrihari Anikhindi, consultant in gastroenterology, said the technique enabled safe extraction without resorting to open surgery, which has higher risks.
The patient recovered well following the procedure, the hospital said.
