It all started when an Illinois man was hospitalized in Kenosha after he inhaled a dentist’s drill. The CT scan results tell the shocking story. An inch-long dental drill went deep into Tom Jozsi’s lung. “How did this happen?” Kent Wainscott of WISN 12 asked him. “Well, I don’t know. I went to the dentist for a filling, and the next thing I knew I swallowed the instrument,” Jozsi said. “I didn’t even feel it subside. All I felt was a cough. When they did the CT scan, they realized you didn’t swallow it. You inhaled.” Metal foreign body penetrates the airway of a 60-year-old maintenance worker. Dr Abdul Alraiyes, a lung specialist, said it had gone so deep that normal scopes could not be reached. “When I saw the picture of the cat and where the object was sitting, it was really far away in the lower right lobe of the lung,” said Alraiyes.” What if he couldn’t get it out. ? And the real answer is, part of my lung will have to be removed,” Jozsi said. “It was decided to try a newer device – one that is not designed to remove foreign bodies,” Alraiyes said. “Exactly right,” said Wainscott. “The reason is because of the size of the catheter,” Alraiyes said. Jozsi said: ‘I have never been as happy as when I opened my eyes and I saw him with a smile under that mask shaking a small plastic box with tools in it. Alraiyes told WISN 12 he had heard from colleagues in Michigan and Ohio who reported seeing cases close to this one.
What started when a routine dental exam brought an Illinois man into Kenosha Hospital after he inhaled a dentist’s drill.
A rare medical procedure was performed to remove a sharp metal object lodged in a patient’s lung.
The CT scan results tell the shocking story.
An inch-long dental drill sits deep in Tom Jozsi’s lung.
“How did this happen?” Kent Wainscott of WISN 12 asked him.
“Well, I don’t know. I went to the dentist to have a tooth filled, and the next thing I knew I had swallowed the instrument,” Jozsi said. “I didn’t even feel it subside. All I felt was a cough. When they did a CT scan, they realized you didn’t swallow it. You inhaled.”
Doctors believe the inhalation just before he coughed pushed the metal object deep into the 60-year-old maintenance worker’s airway.
Dr Abdul Alraiyes, a lung specialist, said it had gone so deep that normal scopes could not reach it.
“When I saw the scan of the cat and where the object was sitting, it was really far away from the right lower lobe of the lung,” Alraiyes said.
“What if he can’t get it out? And the real answer is, part of my lung would have to be removed,” Jozsi said.
That’s when Alraiyes and the Aurora-Kenosha Medical Center research team decided to try a newer device – one that wasn’t designed to remove foreign objects.
“It’s more for early detection of cancer, especially lung cancer,” says Alraiyes.
“But you know you can use it for this?” Wainscott asked.
“Exactly right. The reason is because of the size of the catheter,” says Alraiyes.
The captured video shows that the medical team was able to navigate the narrow airways, reach the drill bit and pull it out without harming the patient.
Jozsi said: “I have never been as happy as when I opened my eyes and saw him smiling under that mask and shaking a little plastic box with tools in it.
Joszki says he now keeps the tool on a shelf at home.
Alraiyes told WISN 12 he has heard from colleagues in Michigan and Ohio who have reported seeing cases close to this one.
