Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
04:55

Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children

Published on: September 11, 2018

Magnetic bead toy ingestion: uses and disuses in children

Boma T Adikibi1, Marion Arnold, Gertruida van Niekerk

  • 1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Klipfontein Road, Cape Town 7700, South Africa. boma.adikibi@nhs.net

Pediatric Surgery International
|February 16, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Ingested magnets can cause severe intestinal injury in children. A 2-year-old experienced peritonitis and bowel obstruction due to four ingested magnets, requiring surgical intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Foreign Body Ingestion

Background:

  • Foreign body ingestion is a common pediatric emergency.
  • Ingestion of multiple magnets poses a unique risk of internal injury due to magnetic attraction.
  • Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.

Observation:

  • A 2-year-old female presented with acute peritonitis and small bowel obstruction.
  • Abdominal radiography revealed a radiopaque foreign body.
  • Laparotomy identified four magnets causing bowel perforations and entero-enteric fistulae.

Findings:

  • Surgical removal of the magnets was performed.
  • Debridement and closure of the perforated bowel segments were successfully completed.
  • The patient's condition was stabilized post-operatively.

Implications:

  • Highlights the critical danger of pediatric magnet ingestion.
  • Emphasizes the need for heightened awareness among healthcare providers.
  • Underscores the potential for severe morbidity and mortality in pediatric cases involving magnetic foreign bodies.

More Related Videos

Measurement Of Neuromagnetic Brain Function In Pre-school Children With Custom Sized MEG14:15

Measurement Of Neuromagnetic Brain Function In Pre-school Children With Custom Sized MEG

Published on: February 19, 2010

Related Concept Videos

Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:24

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...
Magnetism01:30

Magnetism

Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
Other Unique Bacteria01:18

Other Unique Bacteria

Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic and are commonly found near the...
Eddy Currents01:25

Eddy Currents

Since eddy currents occur only in conductors, magnets can separate metals from other materials. For example, in a recycling center, trash is dumped in batches down a ramp, beneath which lies a powerful magnet. Conductors in the trash are slowed by eddy currents, while nonmetals in the trash move on, separating from the metals. This works for all metals, not just ferromagnetic ones.
Other major applications of eddy currents appear in metal detectors and the braking systems of trains and roller...
Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI01:14

Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI

Introduction: MRI and CT scans are crucial advancements in medical imaging techniques, playing a vital role in diagnosing conditions related to the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Each scan serves distinct purposes, targets specific areas, and requires unique nursing duties.
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...