Biomaterial Database

Hazards of battery ingestion. 1983

D M Temple, and M C McNeese

A 12-year-old boy ingested a mercury battery from a watch as a part of an alleged poisoning attempt by an uncle. The battery apparently ruptured spontaneously in the child's stomach less than 36 hours after ingestion. At surgery one battery terminal was found embedded in gastric mucosa thought to be progressing toward gastric perforation. The unique complications of battery ingestion, such as gastrointestinal perforation and possible mercury poisoning, are reviewed. A strong recommendation for immediate endoscopic or surgical removal of ingested batteries is made. Parental education along with preventive measures by manufacturers such as package warnings, specific labeling of battery contents on each package, and "childproofing" of battery-containing products is stressed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007416	Intestinal Perforation	Opening or penetration through the wall of the INTESTINES.	Intestinal Perforations,Perforation, Intestinal,Perforations, Intestinal
D008297	Male		Males
D008630	Mercury Poisoning	Poisoning that results from chronic or acute ingestion, injection, inhalation, or skin absorption of MERCURY or MERCURY COMPOUNDS.	Poisoning, Mercury,Mercury Poisonings,Poisonings, Mercury
D011211	Electric Power Supplies	Devices that control the supply of electric current for running electrical equipment.	Power Sources,Power Supplies,Electric Power Sources,Power Sources, Electric,Power Supplies, Electric,Electric Power Source,Electric Power Supply,Power Source,Power Source, Electric,Power Supply,Power Supply, Electric,Supply, Electric Power
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D005547	Foreign Bodies	Inanimate objects that become enclosed in the body.	Foreign Objects,Gossypiboma,Retained Surgical Instruments,Retained Surgical Items,Retained Surgical Needle,Retained Surgical Sponge,Retained Surgical Tools,Textiloma,Bodies, Foreign,Body, Foreign,Foreign Body,Foreign Object,Gossypibomas,Object, Foreign,Objects, Foreign,Retained Surgical Instrument,Retained Surgical Item,Retained Surgical Needles,Retained Surgical Sponges,Retained Surgical Tool,Surgical Instrument, Retained,Surgical Instruments, Retained,Surgical Item, Retained,Surgical Items, Retained,Surgical Needle, Retained,Surgical Needles, Retained,Surgical Sponge, Retained,Surgical Sponges, Retained,Surgical Tool, Retained,Surgical Tools, Retained,Textilomas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012306	Risk	The probability that an event will occur. It encompasses a variety of measures of the probability of a generally unfavorable outcome.	Relative Risk,Relative Risks,Risk, Relative,Risks,Risks, Relative
D013270	Stomach	An organ of digestion situated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen between the termination of the ESOPHAGUS and the beginning of the DUODENUM.	Stomachs