Ingested magnets and gastrointestinal complications.
Multiple magnet ingestion is an unexpected health hazard in children that can lead to significant gastrointestinal morbidity. The magnets are attracted to each other across the bowel wall and this may lead to pressure necrosis, resulting in perforation, fistula formation, and/or intestinal obstruction. We report herein a case of small bowel obstruction following ingestion of two magnets. The public and clinicians should be aware of the health hazard of such devices.
Alzahem
Abdulrahman M
AM
Department of Academic Surgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia.
Soundappan
Soundappan S V
SS
Jefferies
Heather
H
Cass
Daniel T
DT
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003679:Deglutition; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography