Device for the removal of button batteries.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: There is an increasing number of accidents by erroneous ingestion of button batteries in recent years; the batteries arouse the interest of infants because of their attractive shape and luster. The batteries remaining in the gastrointestinal tract and discharging electric current over a long period of time may induce ulceration or perforation, thus must be carefully considered the selection of appropriate treatment. METHODS: We remove erroneously ingested button batteries with two tubes with ferrite magnets nearly the same size as the button batteries themselves. PATIENTS Four cases of erroneous ingestion of button batteries. RESULTS: We easily removed button batteries from the stomach within 5 minutes in all cases with two magnet-attached tubes. CONCLUSION: We present this battery removal device together with a literature review, because it seems convenient and useful.