Forgotten Denture in a Hemiplegic Patient

• DOI: 10.1097/phm.0b013e3182a92f2f
• Publication Date: 2013-10-18T06:56:07Z
• Authors: Hyo-Sang Kim; Chang-Hwan Kim; Myeong-Ok Kim; Kyung-Lim Joa; Hyung Chung; Han-Young Jung
• Keywords: Aged, 80 and over; Male; Hoarseness; Neck Pain; Video Recording; Foreign Bodies; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; 3. Good health; Stroke; Hypopharynx; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Fluoroscopy; Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Medical History Taking; Intubation, Gastrointestinal; Dentures; Follow-Up Studies

A 74-yr-old man developed left hemiplegia because of a right middle cerebral artery territory infarction and also had clinical features of dysphagia and speech difficulty. At that time, he complained of neck pain, but the symptom was ignored because he had a nasogastric tube and had been diagnosed with a huge epiglottic cyst that had already shown several symptoms such as severe hoarseness and throat discomfort. A videofluoroscopic swallowing study was planned to find out the cause and the type of dysphagia. On the videofluoroscopic swallowing study, a foreign body was found at the hypopharynx. Surprisingly, it was confirmed as a denture. After removing the denture, the patient's swallowing and speech difficulty were significantly improved. This case emphasizes the need for elderly stoke patients presenting with dysphagia or communication problems to receive more careful history taking and a more complete physical examination, with the cooperation of several clinical departments.