Disc Battery-The escalating risk of ingestion by children in IraqAnd subsequent clinical events and complications.

Abstract

Background: Disc battery ingestion is a common
serious problem in Iraq. It increase in the last years
because of the increase in number of electronic toys
that uses these batteries. These batteries contains
many types of irritant chemicals that increases the
risk of it's ingestion.
Methods:We reviewed the medical records of
children aged between 1year and 7 years
old admitted to Surgical Specialty Hospital/Baghdad
Medical City due to disc battery ingestion from
January 2007 through December 2010). The diagnosis
of disc battery ingestion was based upon history,
clinical symptoms, and results of imaging studies.
The clinical data reviewed included sex, age, clinical
manifestation and duration of symptoms, hospital
course, imaging findings, and endoscopic results.
Results: 50 patients were admitted to Thoracic and
vascular Department/Surgical Speciality
Hospital/Baghdad Medical city Complex (26 males
and 24 females) of disc battery ingestion with a mean
age of 1.873 years (range, 7 months to 7 years).
Fourty one patients had Symptoms of Dysphagia,
vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. Four cases
with no history of disc battery ingestion and were
accidentally found by X ray studies. Two patients
complained from Aspiration and chalking, two
patients had mediastinitis and died at later on due to
sepsis, and only one case had surgical emphysema.
Thirty-eight cases had their batteries impacted in the
upper esophagus and Nine cases had their batteries
impacted in mid-esophagus, and Three cases had their
battery impacted in the lower-