[Accidentally swallowed dentures--what is the correct diagnostic and therapeutic management?]

Accidentally swallowed dentures can lead to severe complications in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, early detection and effective therapeutic management are important. We report on two cases of accidentally swallowed dentures with exceptional clinical courses. In the first case, the patient initially did not notice the swallowed denture for several days. After diagnosis of the impacted foreign body, endoscopy revealed that an interventional removal was not feasible, and thus surgical removal was performed. In the second case, endoscopic retrieval of the ingested denture was also impossible, however, unsuccessful endoscopic extraction induced a large esophageal perforation, leading to an urgent esophagectomy. After a complicated course on the intensive care unit, a reconstruction with a colon interposition was carried out. The two cases highlight the importance of early detection and effective management in cases of swallowed dentures. A controlled surgical removal should be considered early as a safe procedure compared to endoscopic extraction.