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

BACKGROUND Although the ingestion of button batteries (BBs) in neonates is exceedingly rare, it poses severe clinical challenges with potentially catastrophic outcomes. The increase in such cases, particularly among toddlers, is largely due to the widespread availability of portable electronic devices. Ingestion of button or disk batteries is notably more dangerous than other foreign bodies, often leading to acute complications such as burns and esophageal perforation. This report details the diagnosis and management of a 21-day-old neonate who presented with a button battery lodged in the esophagus. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 21-day-old neonate who initially presented with 3 days of persistent vomiting. Diagnostic imaging with a chest radiograph revealed a radiopaque foreign body in the esophagus, identified as a button battery. It was suspected that the battery was inadvertently placed in the neonate's mouth by a sibling with an intellectual disability. Initial attempts to remove the battery using 4-, 5-, and 6-mm endoscopes were unsuccessful. However, extraction was eventually accomplished with a 2.5-mm rigid esophagoscope. Following the removal, the neonate developed significant complications, including a tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal stenosis. Extensive follow-up care led to a full recovery, demonstrating resilience despite the severe initial challenges. CONCLUSIONS This report emphasizes the critical need for swift identification and removal of ingested button batteries. It details the diagnostic and management strategies employed for a neonate, illustrating the urgency and precision required in such cases.