Transthoracic extraction of impacted denture at mid esophagus in a 75-year-old patient

A 75-year-old male patient presented with history of dysphagia following inadvertent passage of loose dentures into the esophagus. Patient could only swallow liquids thereafter and had persistent pain in the throat. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed the presence of denture in mid esophagus at approximately 22-25 cm from incisors but the denture could not be removed as it had got impacted in the esophagus. Thoracotomy and esophagotomy was planned because repeated endoscopic removal was unsuccessful. Right posterolateral thoracotomy was performed through the fifth intercostal space and longitudinal esophagotomy in the mid esophagus was done to extract the impacted dentures followed by primary repair of the esophagus. The patient recovered well and he was discharged on the eighth postoperative day.