Citation

Olczak M, Skrzypek E. Leg. Med. (Elsevier) 2015; 17(3): 184-187.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Japanese Society of Legal Medicine, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.legalmed.2014.11.007

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An 8-year boy was admitted to the ER of one of Warsaw's pediatric hospitals with a history of having bloody vomiting the day before. During admission the boy collapsed and lost consciousness. CPR was unsuccessful. On medico-legal autopsy, two foreign objects (small magnetic spheres - 0.5cm in diameter) were found in two different places in the small and large intestines and were notably attracted magnetically one to another. A loop of approximately 1-m length with features of small intestinal hemorrhagic necrosis and small intestinal mechanical obstruction was found. The cause of death was intestinal volvulus and small intestinal mechanical obstruction caused by ingestion of foreign objects (two neodymium magnets). Most likely these small magnetic spheres were part of a popular toy, the safety of which, lately has been widely discussed.

Keywords: Multiple magnet ingestion

Language: en

Keywords

Ingested foreign object; Intestinal volvulus; Magnetic object; Magnetic toy; Neodymium magnets; Small intestine necrosis