Management of Airway Foreign Bodies Caused by Dental Prostheses Complicated by Obstructive Pneumonia: A Report of Two Cases

Dental prostheses account for a large proportion of airway foreign bodies. When complicated by obstructive pneumonia, airway edema and secretions may impair visibility and manoeuvrability, making retrieval more difficult. We report two cases of airway foreign bodies caused by dental prostheses complicated by obstructive pneumonia. Case 1 involved a 78-year-old man with a crown impacted in the left lower lobe bronchus, which was retrieved with flexible bronchoscopy under intravenous anaesthesia despite difficulty. Case 2 involved a 68-year-old man with a metal core post and crown impacted in the right basal trunk bronchus with granulation tissue, and retrieved with rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia. In Case 1, flexible bronchoscopic retrieval was difficult owing to coughing and secretions. Therefore, in Case 2, we selected rigid bronchoscopy and administered antibiotic therapy before retrieval. These cases underscore the importance of selecting retrieval devices based on the foreign body's characteristics and the clinical situation.