[Ingestion of button batteries. Epidemiology, clinical signs and therapeutic recommendations]

The frequency of ingested button batteries is about 10 per million population per year, and one in every 1,000 battery ingestions causes serious injuries. Most of the patients are children. Seven to 20% develop transient symptoms, owing to irritation or superficial corrosion of the gastrointestinal tract. The severe lesions are almost always confined to the oesophagus. Toxic effects from the battery contents are unimportant. Batteries lodged in the oesophagus may not cause initial symptoms, and it is recommended that when ingestion is suspected patients should be examined by fluoroscopy. Batteries in the oesophagus should be removed promptly by endoscopy, those distal to the oesophagus can be left to pass spontaneously. Passage can be ensured by examination of the stools.