Survey of clinical manifestations and complications of disc battery ingestion in children

Disc battery ingestion as a consequence of performing the novel technology in toys, can produce significant danger in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical manifestations, therapeutic protocols, and complications of disc battery ingestion in children. In a case series study during march 2007 to march 2012, all children who referred to Children’s medical center hospital in Tehran because of disc battery ingestion were evaluated using plain radiography and upper endoscopy. A one year follow up was performed to assess complications. A total of 89 children (56 male) with mean age of2.50±2.93 years were enroled. 67.4 % were asymptomatic at the time of admision. Vomiting (25.8%) was the most common complaint at presentation. Esophagoscopy was performed in 22 cases who the disc battery was impacted in the esophagus. But successful removal ensued in 81.8 percent, and 4 cases needed surgical intervention. The disc battery was removed in 12 cases (19%) from the stomach and it was passed through the gastrointestinal tract in the others. The most common complication was delayed esophageal stricture in 14.6%. Although usually the disc battery ingestion is not a cause of significant complication, due to its potential dangers, emergent endoscopic intervention is mandatory in cases with impaction of the disc battery in the esophagus.