[Magnetic items cause perforation of the bowel]

Two cases of bowel perforation after ingestion of two or more magnetic foreign bodies by children are described. Both patients had only minor gastrointestinal symptoms when submitted to hospital. In both cases, acute exploratory laparatomy was performed and bowel perforation was found. The literature describes no consensus to surgical strategy in such cases. Based on the present cases, our recommendation is that an acute abdominal x-ray should be made, followed by either an acute endoscopy or acute laparatomy, even if the patient shows no signs of gastrointestinal symptoms.