Ahmedabad, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital have successfully removed a tooth that had remained lodged in the airway of a 47-year-old man for nearly one and a half years, completing the complex bronchoscopic procedure in just two minutes.
The patient, Balvantbhai, a resident of Gujarat’s Panchmahal district, was admitted to the Pulmonary Medicine Department on July 20 after experiencing persistent coughing and worsening breathing difficulties over the past month.
Medical investigations revealed that a tooth had become lodged deep inside one of the branches of his airway. According to the patient, the tooth had fallen out naturally around 18 months ago and accidentally entered his airway while he was drinking water. The foreign body remained undetected until his respiratory symptoms became severe enough to require specialised treatment.
Given the unusual nature of the case, specialists from the Pulmonary Medicine, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), and Anaesthesia departments jointly planned the intervention. The procedure was carried out on July 23 in the operation theatre using an advanced bronchoscopic technique, allowing doctors to safely extract the tooth without complications.
Dr Nalin Shah, Head of the Pulmonary Medicine Department, said such cases are extremely rare in adults, as foreign body aspiration is typically seen in young children. He cautioned that objects lodged in the airway for prolonged periods can lead to infections and permanent lung damage, urging people with persistent cough or breathing problems to seek timely specialist consultation.
Medical Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi credited the patient’s successful recovery to close coordination among multiple departments and the hospital’s advanced medical facilities. He said the patient was discharged in stable condition the day after the procedure without any complications.
The procedure was performed under the supervision of Dr Nalin Shah. The medical team included ENT specialists Dr Kalpesh Patel and Dr Bela Prajapati, Pulmonary Medicine specialists Dr Dhrumin Prajapati and Dr Bharti Italia, and Head of the Anaesthesia Department Dr Tripti Shah.
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