Abstract
The ingestion of a button-type battery cell by a child is an indication for urgent extraction (within 2 hours) if it has impacted in the esophagus because of the risks of major or even fatal complications, such as perforation and bleeding. In contrast, the ingestion of a cylindrical-type battery that passes into the stomach is not an indication for acute extraction as long as it is not causing symptoms.
A follow-up radiograph after a 4-day interval is considered to be sufficient [1] [2]. We were asked to extract a cylindrical battery from the stomach of a 12-month-old asymptomatic girl approximately 26 hours after she had been witnessed ingesting it ([Fig. 1]).
The procedure was performed with the patient under general anesthesia, using a gastroscope (GIF Q180; Olympus Optical Co., Tokyo, Japan) with a polypectomy snare. During the endoscopy, two ulcers, approximately 10 - 15 mm in diameter, were found on the front and back walls of the stomach ([Fig. 2]), together with several small erosions on the greater curvature ([Video 1]).
The battery was identified as a type A23.