Button Battery Ingestion in a Neonate: Risk, Management, and Implications

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Neonatal Medicine
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Button battery ingestion, though rare in neonates, presents significant clinical challenges and potentially fatal outcomes.
• Increased availability of portable electronics contributes to a rise in button battery ingestions, particularly in young children.
• Esophageal button battery impaction is more dangerous than other foreign bodies, often causing burns and perforation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the diagnosis and management of a 21-day-old neonate with an esophageal button battery.
• To emphasize the critical need for prompt identification and removal of ingested button batteries in neonates.

Main Methods:

• A 21-day-old neonate presented with persistent vomiting, diagnosed via chest radiograph showing an esophageal button battery.
• Initial endoscopic removal attempts with larger scopes were unsuccessful.
• Successful extraction was achieved using a 2.5-mm rigid esophagoscope.

Main Results:

• The button battery was successfully removed from the neonate's esophagus.
• The neonate developed complications including tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal stenosis post-removal.
• Extensive follow-up care resulted in a full recovery.

Conclusions:

• Swift identification and removal of ingested button batteries are crucial in neonates.
• This case illustrates the diagnostic and management strategies required for such emergencies.
• Effective intervention and follow-up can lead to recovery despite severe initial challenges.