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Ingested cylindrical batteries in an incarcerated male: a caustic tale!
Louise Dunphy1, Mohamed Maatouk1, Mazhar Raja1
1Department of Surgery, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, UK.
BMJ Case Reports
|October 1, 2015
Summary
This case study highlights a patient with a history of personality disorder who intentionally ingested multiple batteries. Surgical intervention was ultimately required for battery removal due to gastrointestinal impaction.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Toxicology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Deliberate ingestion of foreign bodies, particularly batteries, presents a significant clinical challenge.
- Patients with underlying personality disorders may exhibit recurrent self-harm behaviors, including foreign body ingestion.
Observation:
- A 37-year-old male with borderline and emotionally unstable personality disorder intentionally ingested eight cylindrical batteries.
- He also had a history of similar battery ingestion 12 months prior, necessitating laparotomy.
- The patient also sustained a self-inflicted laceration and inserted a razor blade rectally.
Findings:
- Initial conservative management with serial radiographs was unsuccessful as the batteries failed to progress through the gastrointestinal tract.
- A subsequent laparotomy was required for the successful extrication of all ingested batteries.
- This case underscores the potential for gastrointestinal impaction and the need for surgical intervention in battery ingestion.
Implications:
- Effective management strategies for intentional foreign body ingestion, especially batteries, are crucial.
- Understanding the psychological underpinnings of such behaviors is vital for comprehensive patient care.
- This case emphasizes the importance of surgical preparedness for managing complex gastrointestinal foreign body cases.