Hard to swallow: remembering to check for impacted dentures in elderly patients presenting with swallowing difficulty
File(s)
Author(s)
Ramesh, Priyavarshini
Morgan, Cerys
Fertleman, Michael
John Koizia, Louis
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: Swallowing difficulty is a common issue associated with hospital admission and can be due to a variety of causes, including accidental ingestion of dentures. This case highlights the importance of ensuring aids such as dentures are accounted for early in elderly patients presenting with swallowing difficulty before subjecting them to medical treatment and investigations for other causes.
Case Presentation: We present the case of a woman in her late 80s who was originally admitted for pelvic fractures and developed new dysphagia and odynophagia with associated voice hoarseness and pooling of saliva. She was initially treated for supraglottitis with antibiotics and dexamethasone with minimal response. Following administration of glycopyrronium, her dentures were visualised in the hypopharynx, and removed. The patient was able to recover her swallow and return to baseline oral intake.
Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of accounting for aids commonly used in the elderly including dentures and ensuring that their presence or absence is documented to prevent misdiagnosis.
Case Presentation: We present the case of a woman in her late 80s who was originally admitted for pelvic fractures and developed new dysphagia and odynophagia with associated voice hoarseness and pooling of saliva. She was initially treated for supraglottitis with antibiotics and dexamethasone with minimal response. Following administration of glycopyrronium, her dentures were visualised in the hypopharynx, and removed. The patient was able to recover her swallow and return to baseline oral intake.
Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of accounting for aids commonly used in the elderly including dentures and ensuring that their presence or absence is documented to prevent misdiagnosis.
Date Issued
2023-01-01
Date Acceptance
2023-01-24
Citation
Archives of Clinical and Biomedical Research, 2023, 07 (02), pp.157-159
ISSN
2572-5017
Publisher
Fortune Journals
Start Page
157
End Page
159
Journal / Book Title
Archives of Clinical and Biomedical Research
Volume
07
Issue
02
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-03-09