Boy suffers lung collapse after home tooth extraction

A young boy in Vietnam suffered a lung collapse after a tooth was extracted at home using a string. Following the extraction, the family was unable to locate the tooth and was unsure if the child had inhaled or swallowed it.

Six days after the incident, the child experienced high fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, with blood oxygen levels dropping to 86%. X-rays and CT scans performed at Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital revealed a radiopaque foreign body in the right intermediate bronchus, shaped like a tooth, which caused the collapse of the right lower lung lobe.

Specialists performed an airway endoscopy to successfully remove the tooth and irrigate the bronchus. Following the procedure, the child's condition stabilized, and oxygen levels returned to a normal range of 96-98%. Medical professionals advise parents against performing home tooth extractions and urge immediate medical attention if a child exhibits coughing, difficulty breathing, or cyanosis after losing a tooth.