Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 15, 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

11.3K

Analysis of Complications After Button Battery Ingestion in Children

Ágnes Varga, Tamás Kovács, Amulya K Saxena1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Chelsea Children's Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|January 26, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Button battery ingestion in children, especially those under 6, poses significant risks. Larger batteries (≥20 mm) increase the likelihood of severe complications, primarily in the esophagus, with a notable fatality rate.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Button battery ingestion (BBI) is a critical pediatric emergency.
  • Potential for severe esophageal and systemic complications necessitates thorough understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a literature review on complications following pediatric button battery ingestion.
  • To identify risk factors and patterns of injury associated with BBI.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search of PubMed (1995-2015) using keywords: "button battery," "ingestion," "children."
  • Analysis of 31 publications, including patient demographics, battery characteristics, complications, affected organs, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 136,191 pediatric cases analyzed; 75% were under 6 years old.
  • Batteries ≥20 mm diameter were linked to higher complication rates (n=226).
  • Esophageal complications were most common (38.94%), with 61 reported fatalities.

Conclusions:

  • Children under 6 are most vulnerable to BBI complications.
  • Lithium batteries ≥20 mm are associated with increased risk; vascular involvement is particularly fatal.
  • Estimated complication rate: 0.165%; estimated lethality: 0.04%.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)09:05

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

30.9K
Making Sense of Listening: The IMAP Test Battery11:25

Making Sense of Listening: The IMAP Test Battery

Published on: October 11, 2010

16.3K

Related Concept Videos

Batteries and Fuel Cells03:12

Batteries and Fuel Cells

A battery is a galvanic cell that is used as a source of electrical power for specific applications. Modern batteries exist in a multitude of forms to accommodate various applications, from tiny button batteries such as those that power wristwatches to the very large batteries used to supply backup energy to municipal power grids. Some batteries are designed for single-use applications and cannot be recharged (primary cells), while others are based on conveniently reversible cell reactions that...
31.1K
DC Battery01:21

DC Battery

A conductor needs to be a component of a path that creates a closed loop or full circuit to have a continuous current flowing through it. A current starts to flow if an electric field is created inside an isolated conductor that is not part of a full circuit. The conductor quickly develops a net positive charge at one end and a net negative charge at the other. These charges generate an electric field opposite the direction of the applied electric field, which reduces the current. Eventually,...
1.3K
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System I: Ingestion and Propulsion01:22

Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System I: Ingestion and Propulsion

The physiology of the gastrointestinal system begins with ingestion as food enters the mouth.
2.1K
Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications01:24

Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications

DialyzersA hemodialysis (HD) dialyzer is a plastic cartridge containing thousands of parallel hollow fibers, which serve as semipermeable membranes. These fibers are typically made from cellulose-based or other synthetic materials. During HD, blood is pumped into the top of the cartridge and distributed among these fibers. Simultaneously, dialysis fluid, known as dialysate, is introduced into the bottom of the cartridge, bathing the outside of the fibers. Across the semipermeable membrane,...
998
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
917
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is...
2.4K