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Disk Battery Ingestion in a Toddler: Less Than Meets the Eye
Ian Schreiner1, William Bonadio1
1Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
Insights
Disk battery ingestion in children requires careful evaluation. This case highlights potential pitfalls in managing pediatric foreign-body ingestions, emphasizing accurate localization for timely intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Toxicology
- Radiology
Background:
- Foreign-body ingestions are common in pediatric emergency departments.
- Accurate risk assessment relies on identifying the foreign body's type and location.
- Radiographic imaging is crucial for clinical decision-making.
Observation:
- A toddler presented with suspected ingestion of multiple disk batteries.
- The clinical course and outcome were unexpected.
- Potential diagnostic and management pitfalls were identified.
Findings:
- Disk battery ingestion poses significant risks in children.
- Misidentification or delayed localization can lead to adverse outcomes.
- This case underscores the importance of thorough radiographic assessment.
Implications:
- Emergency physicians must be vigilant in evaluating pediatric foreign-body ingestions.
- Understanding potential pitfalls can improve patient management.
- Timely and accurate diagnosis is critical for preventing complications.
Background:
Pediatric foreign-body ingestions are commonly managed by emergency physicians. Risk assessment and specific intervention are dependent on the nature and location of the foreign body. Radiographic evaluation is usually necessary to help define the clinical situation.
Case Report:
We present an interesting case of presumed ingestion of several disk batteries by a toddler with an unexpected outcome, reviewing aspects of this clinical problem and highlighting potential pitfalls in medical decision making. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Pediatric foreign-body ingestions are commonly managed in the emergency department, and timely and accurate intervention is dependent on correct defining and localization of the foreign body. This case illustrates potential pitfalls in this evaluation.
