Endoscopic removal of esophageal impacted dentures.

OBJECTIVES

A retrospective study was conducted on 6 patients with esophageal impacted dentures removed via rigid esophagoscopy.

METHODS

Six patients with esophageal impacted dentures were treated in our department, and the following technique was successfully performed. With the patients under general anesthesia, we inserted the endoscope to visualize the impacted dentures, fixed them with forceps, and then stuffed several cotton slivers soaked in saline solution into the esophagus around the dentures with another forceps. Then we extracted the dentures from the esophagus.

RESULTS

All dentures were extracted through esophagoscopy, and there were no severe complications except for 1 case of esophageal hematoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The dilation method using saline solution-soaked cotton slivers is relatively safe and effective in removing impacted dentures from the esophagus, avoiding open surgery and possible perforation.