Man died three years after swallowing his false teeth

A disabled man died three years after he swallowed his false teeth, an inquest heard. Brian Holland, 44, died at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, from internal bleeding after the dentures severed a major artery. At his inquest a coroner found that Stepping Hill Hospital ‘missed opportunities’ in treating Mr Holland, who also had mytonic dystrophy, a muscle-wasting disease.

Doctors at the hospital were unaware Mr Holland, from Offerton, had swallowed his upper dentures while vomiting in May 2010. Mr Holland’s condition deteriorated and but doctors and specialists were unable to find the cause. The inquest heard how the patient, who was unable to eat properly and suffered huge weight loss, was taken to Stepping Hill on May 9 last year coughing up blood but died following emergency surgery.



A pathologist found the teeth had become lodged in his lower oesophagus and over time worn through the oesophagus wall and perforated the aorta, causing internal bleeding. Coroner John Pollard said if staff had examined Mr Holland thoroughly between May and July 2010 then the teeth would have been discovered and removed safely. Recording a verdict of accidental death, he said Mr Holland’s treatment was ‘less than optimal’ and also criticised vital information not being included in his medical records and passed to other medical professionals.

He said: “A number of occasions and a number of opportunities to diagnose and successfully treat his condition were missed.” Mr Pollard told the inquest he would write to Stockport NHS, University of South Manchester NHS Trust where Brian was also treated and the Department of Health over the concerns raised during the inquest. These include asking for dentures to have a metal marker on them so they show up on X-rays and scans. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has apologised and carried out an investigation. A spokesman said: “It is clear that we missed important opportunities in the care of Brian Holland and for that we are very sorry.”