Mysore/Mysuru: An 8-year-old boy accidentally swallowed three brand new button batteries while he was playing. He informed his 15-year-old sister and she reassured him that they would come out in his stools the next day. 

He continued to play and revealed the ingestion to his parents after 4 hours. Since the child did not have any symptoms, the mother made a casual call to their Paediatrician to ask if anything needs to be done. 

The Paediatrician asked the family to rush the child meet a Paediatric Gastroenterologist.

The child’s parents rushed to Institute of Gastrosciences at Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru, for immediate assessment and endoscopic removal. 

X-ray showed that there were 3 batteries, 2 of which were still in the stomach and one had passed into the small intestine. He was rushed to the endoscopy theatre and under general anaesthesia, endoscopy was performed by Dr. Aathira Ravindranath and team on July 10.

There was a copious amount of food in the stomach that was sucked out using a double-channel endoscope and with the guidance of fluoroscopy, the batteries could be located in the stomach.

The two batteries were removed one after the other using a Roth net literally by fishing into the food in the stomach.

The third battery had already passed beyond the reach of the endoscope. Hence, after bowel preparation, a colonoscopy was performed which showed that the battery was still in the last part of the small intestine. The battery was removed without any complications. The child remained stable and there was no injury to the bowel. 

This case demonstrates the importance of quick referral and immediate intervention in case of button battery ingestion. 

Modern lithium batteries are notorious as they have higher voltage delivery. Once ingested they release hydroxide radicals and increase pH at the negative pole of the battery. This will injure and burn the inner lining of the gastrointestinal system which can even perforate the food pipe, stomach or small intestine depending on the area where it is lodged, says Dr. Aathira Ravindranath,  Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist.