Clinical characteristics of magnetic foreign body misingestion in children

Magnetic foreign body misingestion (MFBM) is now occurring more frequently. It may cause remarkable mortality and morbidity in children. A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of children admitted to Xiamen Children’s Hospital between March 2017 and July 2020 due to accidental MFBM. A total of 14 children who had MFBM were collected, the proportion between urban and rural areas was 8:6, and the ratio of male to female was 6:1. The age ranged from 1.2 to 8.9 years (median 4.6 years). The number of magnetic foreign bodies ingested by mistake is 1 to 17 (average 6.5). Magnetic foreign objects are divided into magnets (3 cases) + magnetic beads (11 cases). About 40% (5/14) of this patient series showed no available misingestion history. Management includes: 4 cases of open surgery (including 1 case of laparoscopic transfer to operation), 3 cases of laparoscopic surgery, 2 cases of gastroscopy, 5 cases of conservative treatment of foreign bodies discharged through the anus. Of the 7 surgical cases, 6 cases presented with intestinal obstruction and intestinal perforation (at least 1 intestinal perforation and at most 5). Abdominal sonography has limitations in the detection of magnetic foreign bodies in the digestive tract. The proportion of laparoscopic surgery in the 7 surgical cases is nearly half. All surgical cases recovered smoothly after treatment. Our experience shows that MFBM is a big issue for the small children! The early symptoms of MFBM are often atypical especially among young children and MFBM may lead to severe adverse events. We proposed a management strategy for MFBM in children. We advise pediatricians/emergency physicians, parents/children’s guardians and society should raise the collaborated alertness of MFBM. Global awareness of risk prevention of magnetic material accidental ingestion cannot be overemphasized.

Clinical Characteristics of Magnetic Foreign Body Mis-ingestion in Children—A Big Issue for Small Children

Objective: Magnetic foreign body mis-ingestion (MFBM) is now occurring more frequently. it may cause remarkable mortality and morbidity in children. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of children admitted to Xiamen Children's Hospital between March 2017 and July 2020 due to accidental MFBM. Results: A total of 14 children who had MFBM were collected, the proportion between urban and rural areas was 8:6, and the ratio of male to female was 6:1. The age ranged from 1.2 to 8.9 years (median 4.6 years). The number of magnetic foreign bodies ingested by mistake is 1 to 17 (average 6.5)。Magnetic foreign objects are divided into magnet (3 cases) + magnetic beads (11 cases). About 40%（5/14）of this patient series showed no available mis-ingestion history. Management includes: 4 cases of open surgery (including 1 case of laparoscopic transfer to operation), 3 cases of laparoscopic surgery, 2 cases of gastroscopy, 5 cases of conservative treatment of foreign bodies discharged through the anus. Of the 7 surgical cases, 6 cases presented with intestinal obstruction and intestinal perforation (at least 1 intestinal perforation and at most 5). Abdominal sonography has limitations in the detection of magnetic foreign bodies in the digestive tract. The proportion of laparoscopic surgery in the 7 surgical cases is nearly half. All surgical cases recovered smoothly after treatment.Conclusions: Our experience shows that MFBM is a big issue for the small children! The early symptoms of MFBM are often atypical especially among young children and MFBM may lead to severe adverse events. We proposed a management strategy for MFBM in children. We advise pediatricians/emergency physicians, parents/children’s guardians and society should raise the collaborated alertness of MFBM. Global awareness of risk prevention of magnetic material accidental ingestion cannot be overemphasized.

Accidental multiple magnet ingestion by an adult: a case report

Accidental multiple magnetic foreign body ingestion although common in children is rare in adults. Multiple magnetic foreign body ingestion possess a definitive risk of causing intestinal perforation, volvulus or fistulas and requires early surgical intervention even in apparently asymptomatic individuals to prevent catastrophic complications. We report a case of an 18 year old male with a history of accidental simultaneous ingestion of two semi-circular shaped magnets along with a nail. The peculiarity of the case being that despite the magnets being simultaneously ingested, one was in the stomach and the other in the jejunum adhered to each other through the transverse colon mesentery causing pressure necrosis of the adjoining wall with the patient being asymptomatic.

Magnetic Apposition across the Epiglottis: Radiographic and Operative Correlation of a Rare Hypopharyngeal Foreign Body

Background and Aim. Rare-earth magnet ingestions are a subset of foreign body ingestions and can result in significant morbidity secondary to pressure necrosis. These magnets are best visualized radiographically, typically located in the gastrointestinal tract. However, unusual locations of magnetic adherence may include the hypopharynx along the epiglottis, where only 2 previous cases have been reported. Clinicians should be aware of the potential dangers of rare-earth magnet ingestion and consider atypical locations of attachment in the appropriate clinical setting. Case Presentation. We present an interesting case of a fourteen-year-old female patient who presents with witnessed ingestion of multiple rare-earth magnets. Soft-tissue neck radiographs demonstrate two adjacent rounded radiopaque densities in the hypopharynx. Intraoperative images confirmed the radiographic findings and identified two magnetic balls stuck along the dorsal and ventral aspect of the epiglottis without evidence of pressure necrosis. Conclusion. This is the first published case of magnetic foreign body adherence to the epiglottis in the Radiology literature. Awareness and recognition of the unique radiographic findings of this rare entity can help clinicians streamline timely management.

Multicenter study of pediatric alimentary tract magnetic foreign body ingestion in China

Abstract Background: To investigate the alimentary tract Buckyball injuries in Chinese pediatric patients, and describe the managements and precautionary measures through multicenter investigation. Methods: Medical records of 74 pediatric patients from 9 large Chinese third-grade class-A hospitals were included in this study. Questionnaires were distributed online, and medical records were reviewed. Follow-ups were through telephone and outpatient service. Results: Among the 74 cases were 50 boys (68%) and 24 girls (32%). The age was 36.00 (21.75, 77.00) months, range from 7 months to 11 years old, and it showed two peaks, between one and three years old, and from six to eleven years old. The annual case numbers showed sharp increase, and Hebei Province had the largest number of 23 cases. Only 3 of them had exact reasons for swallowing the balls, the rest 71 patients had no intension for the ingestion. From onset to the emergency department time was 2.00 (1.00, 5.25) days, varied from 4 hours to 40 days. Twenty-one patients had no symptoms, and abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, abdominal distension, fiercely crying, melena, and flatus and defecation stopped were in 40 (54.05%), 36 (48.65%), 11 (14.86%), 3 (4.05%), 3 (4.05%), 2 (2.70%), 1 (1.35%) cases. Gastroscope, coloscope, laparoscopic operation, and laparotomy operation were adopted. Gastrointestinal perforation, ischemia and necrosis of gastrointestinal wall, abscess, ileus, fistula was found in 38 (51.53%), 14 (18.92%), 7 (9.46%), 6 (8.11%), 2 (2.70%), other 28 (37.84%) patients had gastrointestinal mucosa erosion. The numbers of Buckyball ingested was 4 (2, 8), with a range from 1 to 39. During the follow-up period of 6 (1, 15) months, three patients had ileus, and one suffered a second operation. The remaining 71 patients were uneventful. None of the 74 patients reported a second time swallowing of Buckyballs or other magnetic foreign bodies. Conclusions: Pediatric alimentary tract magnetic foreign body ingestion in China is still increasing. Treatments and managements are of great significance, while prevention is more important and time critical. Precautionary measures toward the issue should be taken from three levels. Keywords: Pediatric, Alimentary tract, Magnetic foreign body, Buckball

Magnetic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children: The Attractive Hazards

Foreign body ingestions are frequent in the childhood population. Most foreign bodies are passed spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract. However, on occasion, they can also be a rare cause of morbidity and even mortality, such as in the case of multiple magnetic foreign body ingestion, which can cause injury via magnetic attraction through bowel walls. We present two cases of multiple magnetic foreign body ingestion, which to our knowledge are the first ones reported in Hong Kong. One patient presented with shock and intestinal necrosis requiring extensive intestinal resection, whereas the other patient had no gastrointestinal injury but surgical removal was deemed necessary.