Physicians remove swallowed dentures via 120cm colonoscopy

A 65-year-old man underwent a rare medical procedure to remove swallowed dentures from his colon. The patient accidentally swallowed a bridge consisting of two molar dentures while sleeping.

Physicians at Changhua Christian Hospital used a colonoscopy with a net to navigate approximately 120 centimeters through the rectum, sigmoid colon, descending colon, transverse colon, and ascending colon to reach the dentures lodged in a fold at the base of the ascending colon.

Doctors advised the patient against reusing the loose dentures and warned that swallowing foreign objects like dentures, fish bones, or bones can lead to serious complications such as intestinal injury, perforation, or infection if not treated promptly.