Citation

Lahmar J, Célérier C, Garabédian EN, Couloigner V, Leboulanger N, Denoyelle F. Eur. Ann. Otorhinolaryngol. Head Neck Dis. 2018; 135(2): 91-94.

Affiliation

Service d'ORL, pédiatrique et de chirurgie cervicofaciale, hôpital universitaire Necker-Enfants-Malades, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.anorl.2017.09.004

PMID

29054752

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To study recent cases of esophageal injury due to button-battery ingestion in children presenting in pediatric ENT emergency departments of the Paris area of France (Île-de-France region), in order to propose appropriate preventive measures. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective descriptive single-center study included all children under 15 years of age, presenting in pediatric ENT emergency departments between January 2008 and April 2014 for button-battery ingestion with esophageal impaction requiring emergency removal.

RESULTS: Twenty-two boys and 4 girls, with a median age of 25 months, were included. Twenty-five of the 26 batteries had diameters of 20mm or more. Median esophageal impaction time was 7 hours 30 minutes (range, 2 to 72 hours). The complications rate was 23%. Mean hospital stay cost was €38,751 (range, €5130-119,737). The origin of the battery was known in 23 of the 26 cases: remote control without screw-secured compartment (42.3%), open battery pack (15.4%), children's toy (15.3%), camera (7.7%), watch (1 case) and hearing aid without screw-secured compartment (1 case).

CONCLUSION: Esophageal lesions due to ingestion of button-batteries in children are almost always due to batteries larger than 20mm in diameter, mostly from devices with a poorly protected compartment, or batteries that are not individually packaged. These lesions cause serious complications in a quarter of cases and their management entails high health costs. Legislation requiring screw-secured compartments and individual blisters for batteries could have prevented 69.2% of the ingestions.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Button-battery; Esophagus; Foreign body; Pediatric