Button battery and magnet ingestions in the pediatric patient

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Toxicology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Pediatric foreign body ingestion is a common clinical challenge.
• Increased access to advanced toys has led to more ingestions of button batteries and magnets.
• These ingestions carry a significant risk of morbidity and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current literature on pediatric button battery and magnet ingestions.
• To identify at-risk populations, common presentations, and potential complications.
• To highlight recent findings and management strategies for gastrointestinal injury.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on button battery and magnet ingestions in children.
• Analysis of patient data regarding risk factors, symptoms, and outcomes.
• Synthesis of findings related to esophageal injury and gastrointestinal complications.

Main Results:

• Button batteries can cause rapid esophageal injury, with larger sizes correlating to higher injury grades.
• Multiple magnet ingestions or magnets with other metallic objects may be asymptomatic initially but can worsen acutely.
• Both button battery and magnet ingestions have increased over the last two decades, with higher voltage batteries and powerful magnets posing greater risks.

Conclusions:

• Early recognition and intervention are critical for managing pediatric button battery and magnet ingestions.
• High suspicion, prompt referral, and timely removal can mitigate severe gastrointestinal injury.
• Ongoing vigilance and awareness are necessary due to the increasing incidence and severity of these ingestions.