A Review of Esophageal Disc Battery Ingestions and a Protocol for Management

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with esophageal disc battery requiring endoscopic retrieval and describe a protocol for management. DESIGN: Retrospective medical chart review. PATIENTS: Pediatric patients who underwent endoscopic retrieval of an esophageal disc battery over a 10-year period. RESULTS: Ten pediatric patients had ingested an esophageal disc battery that required endoscopic removal. Three patients had minimal esophageal damage; the other 7 sustained severe and extensive esophageal damage involving the muscularis (n = 5) or developed a perforation (n = 2). One of these patients had an extensive injury that extended into the trachea resulting in a tracheoesophageal fistula. Two case reports are presented, outlining the management approach to esophageal perforations from esophageal battery ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: Severe injury can occur rapidly following disc battery ingestion. A high index of suspicion for an esophageal disc battery is necessary to expeditiously diagnose this condition. Emergency endoscopic removal is necessary. We outline a protocol for the management of this hazardous problem.