Multiple magnet ingestion: is there a role for early surgical intervention?

Children often swallow foreign bodies. Multiple magnet ingestion is rare, but can result in serious complications. This study presents three unique cases of multiple magnet ingestion: one case an 8-year-old boy with multiple magnet ingestion resulting in gastric obstruction and the other two cases w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of Saudi medicine 2012-01, Vol.32 (1), p.93-96
Main Authors: Salimi, Amrollah, Kooraki, Soheil, Esfahani, Shadi Abdar, Mehdizadeh, Mehrzad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Algorithms
Case Report
Child
Child, Preschool
Children & youth
Disease control
Eating
Endoscopy
Female
Fistula
Foreign Bodies - surgery
Gastric Outlet Obstruction - etiology
Gastric Outlet Obstruction - surgery
Gastrointestinal diseases
Humans
Intestinal Perforation - etiology
Intestinal Perforation - surgery
Magnets - adverse effects
Male
Pain
Parents & parenting
Patients
Play and Playthings - injuries
Stomach
Toy industry
Toys
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Summary:Children often swallow foreign bodies. Multiple magnet ingestion is rare, but can result in serious complications. This study presents three unique cases of multiple magnet ingestion: one case an 8-year-old boy with multiple magnet ingestion resulting in gastric obstruction and the other two cases with intestinal perforations due to multiple magnet intake. History and physical examination are unreliable in children who swallow multiple magnets. Sometimes radiological findings are not conclusive, whether one magnet is swallowed or more. If magnets are not moved in sequential radiology images, we recommend early surgical intervention before gastrointestinal complications develop. Toy companies, parents, physicians, and radiologists should be warned about the potential complications of such toys.
ISSN:0256-4947
0975-4466
DOI:10.5144/0256-4947.2012.93