title: Lithium battery lodged in the oesophagus: A report of three paediatric cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the last years the ingestion of disk batteries has become frequent in children with serious consequences. The severity of injuries is related to the growing use of new lithium batteries that may cause catastrophic damages when lodged in the oesophagus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The notes of three consecutive children with lithium batteries lodged in the oesophagus, admitted to our Institute from 2010 to 2014, were reviewed. Clinical presentation, management, and outcome were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first child, a 22-month-old girl, died of a sudden exsanguination due to an aorto-oesophageal fistula. The second case, a 5-year-old boy, had an exploratory thoracotomy to exclude aortic lesion before battery removal, and a spontaneous oesophageal perforation. The third child, a 18-month-old boy, fully recovered after suffering ulcerative oesophageal burns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lithium battery lodged in the oesophagus is a paediatric emergency requiring a multidisciplinary approach that can be implemented in a tertiary children's hospital.
authors: Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, G. Gaslini Institute Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: arrigobarabino@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it.
authors: Arrigo Vittorio
authors: AV
authors: Barabino
authors: Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, G. Gaslini Institute Genoa, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Gandullia
authors: Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, G. Gaslini Institute Genoa, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Vignola
authors: Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, G. Gaslini Institute Genoa, Italy.
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Arrigo
authors: Cardiovascular Surgery, G. Gaslini, Institute Genoa, Italy.
authors: Lucio
authors: L
authors: Zannini
authors: Emergency Medicine, G. Gaslini, Institute Genoa, Italy.
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Di Pietro
mesh_terms: D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating; D011211:Electric Power Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004937:Esophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D004947:Esophagus; D058734:Exsanguination / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium
keywords: Aorto-oesophageal fistula; Children; Lithium battery ingestion