Denture Ingestion, Gastrointestinal Transit and Subsequent Complications in a 75-Year-Old Male: A Case Report

Foreign body ingestion is a common clinical occurrence, often resolving spontaneously as the object passes through the gastrointestinal tract. We present a unique case of sigmoid perforation with an associated local abscess, successfully managed with sigmoidectomy and direct anastomosis.

A 75-year-old male presented to the emergency department after accidentally ingesting his dentures. Conservative management was attempted initially. Four days later, the patient developed abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan revealed signs of perforation, and diagnostic laparoscopy confirmed a sigmoid perforation with a localized abscess. A sigmoidectomy with end-to-end circular stapled anastomosis was performed, during which the dentures were mobilized retrogradely to enable controlled extraction, leading to a full and rapid recovery.

This case highlights the potential complications and occasional need for surgery due to ingested foreign bodies and the importance of accurate diagnosis and vigilant monitoring in managing these patients.