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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Happens If Food Enters Trachea Instead Of Esophagus?

When I swallowed earlier today some of my spittle went down the trachea instead of esophagus. I had a fit of coughing at the time. It is now about 4 hours later and I still feel my chest is heavy and carrying some liquid. I am also starting to feel a little unwell. Headaches, aching back (where lungs are) etc. What should I do?
Mon, 27 Feb 2017
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hello,
1) It is very rare that food particle or liquid reach up to lungs.
2) Before that you develop symptoms of choking due to blockage of trachea from solid food of adequate size.
3) If you drank liquid and went into trachea instead of esophagus then immediately it come out due to automatic response of coughing and therefore only very small quantity of liquid can be reached to lungs which does not cause any damage to your respiration or breathing. Eventually it will be absorbed by lungs provided quantity is very small.
4) If your coughing is subsided that suggest there is nothing inside trachea or lungs which is causing irritations.
5) But for symptoms of chest heaviness, feeling of liquid inside, you should do chest x-ray to find out reason for development of these symptoms although passage of food/liquid might not be responsible for this.

Hope I answered your query. If you have any further doubts, I would be happy to help you.
Have a nice day!
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What Happens If Food Enters Trachea Instead Of Esophagus?

Hello, 1) It is very rare that food particle or liquid reach up to lungs. 2) Before that you develop symptoms of choking due to blockage of trachea from solid food of adequate size. 3) If you drank liquid and went into trachea instead of esophagus then immediately it come out due to automatic response of coughing and therefore only very small quantity of liquid can be reached to lungs which does not cause any damage to your respiration or breathing. Eventually it will be absorbed by lungs provided quantity is very small. 4) If your coughing is subsided that suggest there is nothing inside trachea or lungs which is causing irritations. 5) But for symptoms of chest heaviness, feeling of liquid inside, you should do chest x-ray to find out reason for development of these symptoms although passage of food/liquid might not be responsible for this. Hope I answered your query. If you have any further doubts, I would be happy to help you. Have a nice day!