[Experience in the management of battery ingestion in a pediatric hospital].

INTRODUCTION

As button batteries have become worldwide used, there have been an increase in its ingest cases, mostly in pediatric population. Also, it is in this group where most complications and death cases are presented according to latest publications. In Colombia there are not public programs that pursuit to prevent the ingestion of this kind of foreign body. We report our experience in the management of these patients in a pediatric hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of cases where patients attend to the emergency room for suspected foreign body ingestion between January 2007 and December 2015. In a total of 46 cases the foreign body was a battery.

RESULTS

85% where under 5 years old. 68% present symptoms. The most frequent location and with the worst complications was the esophagus. All patients that required ICU in the postoperative period where also in that group. There was one case of mortality.

DISCUSSION

There must be an education plan for health personal and general population regarding the danger that represent button batteries at the reach of children, and the urgency that implies its attention once an ingestion has occurred. It is important to establish protocols in each institution for an appropriate and urgent extraction.