Intraoperative dental aspiration and ingest, systematic review and algorithm proposal

Introduction

The aspiration and ingestion of a molar during its extraction is a rare accident, so there is not enough information about the reported cases. The objective of this study is to carry out a systematic review, analyze the articles on intraoperative dental aspiration and intake, and propose an algorithm for the management of this complication.

Materials and methods

A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA criteria in the PubMed database in January 2023 with the following limitations: studies conducted in humans; English language; reports of aspiration and swallowing of teeth during dental extraction, age was not limited. Exclusion criteria: studies of aspiration and ingestion of foreign bodies that do not involve teeth.

Results

A total of 5 articles were obtained with 5 reported cases of aspiration. There were no reports associated with the ingestion of a tooth. The most prevalent sex was male, with all cases reported in men, the average age was 24.4 years. The imaging studies of choice were chest radiography and computed tomography. The right bronchus was the most prevalent location site. The first line treatment was bronchoscopy, followed by tracheotomy and thoracotomy.

Conclusion

Tooth extraction is a common surgical procedure, so it is essential to be careful in the event of possible complications such as intraoperative aspiration or tooth ingestion. Tooth aspiration can be a life-threatening complication, so prompt management is important. The proposed algorithm allows adequate management for aspiration and swallowing of teeth.