Stuck popcorn leads to endocarditis and open heart surgery

Delhi: A firefighter from Britain had a near-death experience due to a piece of popcorn stuck in his teeth. Adam Martin, 41, had to undergo open-heart surgery after trying to dislodge the popcorn out of his teeth using a variety of tools.

He developed an infection of the heart called endocarditis which is caused by bacteria spreading through the bloodstream. Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium, which is the inner lining of heart chambers and heart valves. It generally occurs when bacteria, fungi or other organisms from another part of the body, such as your mouth, spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in the heart.

According to Daily Mail, he used a pen lid, toothpick, piece of wire and even a metal nail to try and get out the piece of popcorn stuck in his teeth for three days. He inflicted damage to his gums while trying to remove the popcorn leading to gum infection. This eventually led to endocarditis, which if untreated could have led to life-threatening heart failure.

A week after the popcorn got stuck, he developed night sweats, fatigue, headaches and eventually a heart murmur, which are all signs of infection. He went to a doctor on October 7 and doctors diagnosed a mild heart murmur and sent him for blood tests and X-rays, which were uneventful. By October, when his symptoms were still not better, he went to a hospital, where doctors found his heart was damaged due to the infection. He also developed a blood blister on his toe - which was later diagnosed as a Janeway lesion, a sign of infective endocarditis.

"I had a feeling there was something seriously wrong. I was sleeping an awful lot and I felt terrible," he recalled. "I had aches and pains in my legs and I just did not feel right at all. I was admitted to hospital the same day for tests. By this point, I was very worried."

Fortunately, doctors were able to save Mr Martin. He had to undergo an operation to remove an infected blood clot from his leg and another seven-hour surgery to replace a valve in his heart.

"I wasn't far off death's door and I am extremely lucky,' said Mr Martin told Daily Mail. "I am never eating popcorn again that's for sure."

He was transferred to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, on October 21 and had seven hours of open-heart surgery to replace his heart's aortic valve and repair the mitral valve, which had been damaged by the infection.

Fortunately, doctors were able to save Mr Martin. He had to undergo an operation to remove an infected blood clot from his leg and another seven-hour surgery to replace a valve in his heart.