[A case report and an experimental study of esophageal foreign body of lithium battery]

In recent years an increase in the incidence of esophageal injury due to battery ingestion by infants with miniaturization of batteries has been noted. A case of esophageal ulceration due to lithium battery ingestion is reported. Moreover, an experimental model of esophageal injury due to lithium battery ingestion was produced in dogs, and the tissue damage was evaluated histologically. When the battery was inserted and left in the esophagus for one hour, the structure of the esophagus was well preserved. Minor injury was histologically found in the group in which the battery was retained for two hours. Esophageal injury from the epithelium to the muscle layer was found when the battery was retained for four hours. On the basis of our experimental findings, early extraction within four hours is desirable in the case of an esophageal foreign body of electric battery.