Accidental ingestion of a three-way (air-water-spray) syringe tip during dental procedure recovered by gastroscopy: case report

Abstract

The ingestion or aspiration of dental material or instruments is one of the most feared complications in clinical dental practice, it can occur in both children and adults. The mouth is a moist, dark, small area; where the involuntary movements of the patient during the procedures and the small dimensions of the materials and instruments turn dental care into a challenge. A swallowed or aspirated foreign body during dental treatment can result in serious complications and even death, these depend largely on the shape, size and anatomical pathway through which it passes. This article describes an uncommon complication of which there is only one report in the literature worldwide, the ingestion of the tip of a triple syringe during a routine dental procedure that was recovered by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It also highlights the importance of knowing the protocols for handling aspirated or swallowed foreign bodies where a fast and adequate approach during the first minutes can make the difference between life and death.