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Ingestion of multiple magnets: hazardous foreign bodies for children

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Abstract

We report a case of perforation, fistula formation, and small bowel obstruction in a 2-year-old child who had ingested 32 small magnets. Multiple magnets will attract one another through the bowel wall and lead to pressure necrosis with complications. We recommend early surgical intervention before the onset of gastrointestinal complications if ingested multiple magnets have not moved on the follow-up radiograph. Both clinicians and the lay population need to be aware that multiple magnets can be hazardous foreign bodies for children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Edobashi 2-174, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan

    Keiichi Uchida, Kohei Otake, Takashi Iwata, Hideki Watanabe, Mikihiro Inoue, Tsuyoshi Hatada & Masato Kusunoki

Authors
  1. Keiichi Uchida
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  2. Kohei Otake
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  3. Takashi Iwata
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  4. Hideki Watanabe
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  5. Mikihiro Inoue
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  6. Tsuyoshi Hatada
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  7. Masato Kusunoki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keiichi Uchida.

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Uchida, K., Otake, K., Iwata, T. et al. Ingestion of multiple magnets: hazardous foreign bodies for children. Pediatr Radiol 36, 263–264 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-0056-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-0056-3

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