Ingestion of multiple magnets: hazardous foreign bodies for children.
We report a case of perforation, fistula formation, and small bowel obstruction in a 2-year-old child who had ingested 32 small magnets. Multiple magnets will attract one another through the bowel wall and lead to pressure necrosis with complications. We recommend early surgical intervention before the onset of gastrointestinal complications if ingested multiple magnets have not moved on the follow-up radiograph. Both clinicians and the lay population need to be aware that multiple magnets can be hazardous foreign bodies for children.
Uchida
Keiichi
K
Department of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Edobashi 2-174, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan. ucchie@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp
Otake
Kohei
K
Iwata
Takashi
T
Watanabe
Hideki
H
Inoue
Mikihiro
M
Hatada
Tsuyoshi
T
Kusunoki
Masato
M
D003679:Deglutition; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011859:Radiography