FOR THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER
Pediatric Surgery
doi: 10.25005/2074-0581-2025-27-2-463-471
MANAGEMENT OF BUTTON BATTERY INJURIES OF THE ESOPHAGUS

V.G. BAIROV1, E.S. SALAKHOV2,3,4

1Department of Faculty Surgery with Clinic, National Medical Research Center named after V.A. Almazov, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
2Children's City Clinical Hospital № 5 named after N.F. Filatov, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
3Department of Pediatric Surgery, North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
4Department of Surgery and Urology named after Professor B.I. Miroshnikov, St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Objective: To evaluate the results of the treatment of children with esophageal injuries caused by button battery ingestion.

Methods: The study involved 76 children who were admitted to the Children's City Clinical Hospital № 5 named after N.F. Filatov in St. Petersburg, Russia, with a diagnosis of a button battery foreign body in the esophagus between 2007 and 2023. Based on the time that elapsed between admission and the removal of the foreign body, the children were divided into four groups: Group 1 – 31 children (41%) from whom the battery was removed within 4 hours of ingestion; Group 2 – 16 children (21%) from whom the battery was removed within 4 to 8 hours of ingestion; Group 3 – 10 children (13%) from whom the battery was removed within 8 to 12 hours of ingestion, and Group 4 – 19 children (25%) for whom the exact time of battery ingestion could not be determined. After the removal of the foreign body, a deep burn of the esophagus was detected in these cases. Various diagnostic methods were employed, including chest and abdominal X-ray, neck X-ray, contrast radiography, and upper endoscopy (EGD). If necessary, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest and abdomen was also performed.

Results: When acute necrotizing esophagitis, characterized by deep esophageal lesions, was detected in children, the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. In these cases, enteral nutrition was discontinued entirely, and the children were transitioned to parenteral nutrition. Among the cases, complications were observed in 14 cases (18%): esophageal pressure necrosis with ulceration occurred in 4 cases (5%), esophageal perforation without the formation of tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistulas was noted in another 4 cases (5%), and esophageal perforation accompanied by fistula formation was identified in 6 cases (8%).

Conclusion: Children who are admitted late after button battery ingestion can develop severe complications, such as esophageal perforation and fistulous connections between the esophagus and the respiratory tract. Few publications address the treatment of these patients, and there are no clearly defined strategies or recommendations available.

Keywords: Esophageal burn, esophageal perforation, tracheoesophageal fistula, bronchoesophageal fistula, esophagostomy, gastrostomy.

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Authors' information:

Bairov Vladimir Gireevich,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Faculty Surgery with Clinic, National Medical Research Center named after V.A. Almazov
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8446-830X
SPIN-код: 6025-8991
Author ID: 623392
E-mail: v-bairov@mail.ru

Salakhov Elzamin Saleh ogly,
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Head of the Surgical Department, Children's City Clinical Hospital № 5 named after N.F. Filatov; Associate Professor of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov; Associate Professor of the Department of Surgery and Urology named after Professor B.I. Miroshnikov, St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4403-941X
SPIN: 6942-7333
Author ID: 949460
E-mail: salahov-30@yandex.ru

Information about support in the form of grants, equipment, medications

The authors did not receive financial support from manufacturers of medicines and medical equipment

Conflicts of interest: No conflict

Address for correspondence:

Salakhov Elzamin Saleh ogly
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Head of the Surgical Department, Children's City Clinical Hospital № 5 named after N.F. Filatov; Associate Professor of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov; Associate Professor of the Department of Surgery and Urology named after Professor B.I. Miroshnikov, St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute

191015, Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Kirochnaya str., 41

Tel.: +7 (965) 0846362

E-mail: salahov-30@yandex.ru


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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