REMINDER: MEDICAL MISTAKES KILL MORE PEOPLE THAN GUNS: He said something was stuck in his throat after surgery. The doctors didn’t believe him. It was his dentures:

The 72-year-old man’s initial surgery was to remove a harmless lump in his abdominal wall. He returned to the hospital six days later complaining of blood in his mouth and difficulties breathing and swallowing, which had prevented him from eating solid food.

Doctors in the emergency room were unable to diagnose the problem and the unnamed man was sent home with a prescription for mouthwash, antibiotics and steroids.

He returned two days later with worsening symptoms and was admitted to the hospital with suspected aspiration pneumonia — a severe chest infection.

Eventually a diagnostic procedure identified a semicircular object lying across his vocal cords, which had caused internal blistering and swelling.

The man was subsequently rushed into surgery to remove the false teeth. He remained in the hospital for another six days. He returned suffering complications on multiple occasions over the following month, before eventually healing.

The man said he knew his dentures had gone missing during his initial hospital stay, but he didn’t realize they had slid down his throat during surgery.

Sheesh. And congrats for missing the problem when he came back.