Battery ingestion: an unusual cause of mediastinitis

To the Editor:

An 18-month-old boy with dry cough and fever was brought to the emergency department. His mother reported the onset of the symptoms approximately 3 days prior. She reported no nausea, vomiting, refusal to eat, or other symptoms. Physical examination revealed no abnormalities.

Chest X-rays demonstrated a round, opaque object lodged at the upper esophagus. The identification of a circular radiopaque shadow with a peripheral double rim or a halo effect on an anteroposterior (AP) X-ray (Figure 1A) and a step-off on the lateral view (Figure 1B) allowed the diagnosis of button battery (BB) ingestion.

Figure 1
In A, an anteroposterior chest X-ray revealing a circular radiopaque shadow with a peripheral double rim or a halo effect, and, in B, a lateral X-ray showing a step-off, which allowed the diagnosis of a button battery lodged in the esophagus.

Esophagoscopy showed a corroded 20-mm-diameter lithium BB lodged in the esophagus, with corrosive injury of the mucosa. The foreign body was retrieved 80 h after the ingestion. CT scans showed foci of material with high density posterior to the trachea (remains of the foreign body) and signs of esophageal perforation and mediastinitis (Figure 2).

Figure 2
CT scans showing upper mediastinum widening with areas of low attenuation surrounding the trachea and supra-aortic arteries and veins, as well as extraluminal gas and metallic fragments (remains of the foreign body), suggestive of esophageal perforation and mediastinitis.

Immediate surgical consultation was done, and conservative treatment was decided (observation, antibiotics and nasogastric tube feeding). After 30 days of hospitalization, follow-up esophagoscopy demonstrated complete lesion closure with no sign of stenosis.

A BB lodged in the esophagus can cause severe tissue damage and delayed complications, such as esophageal perforation, tracheoesophageal fistulas, mediastinitis, and death.^{( 1 - 4 )} Misdiagnoses frequently occur when ingested batteries are misidentified on X-rays as other objects, particularly coins. However, subtle differences exist in the radiographic features of BBs and coins. A halo of reduced density is present around the circumference of a BB (double rim or halo effect) on an AP X-ray, and a step-off can be observed on the lateral view.

A battery lodged in the esophagus must be treated as a medical emergency because of its rapid corrosive action; a BB may cause serious burns in just two hours.^{( 1 - 4 )} Patients with a battery in the esophagus may be asymptomatic initially. Endoscopic removal is preferred because it allows direct visualization of tissue injury.^{( 1 )}

References

• ¹
  Litovitz T, Whitaker N, Clark L, White NC, Marsolek M. Emerging battery-ingestion hazard: clinical implications. Pediatrics 2010;125(6):1168-77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3037
  » http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3037
• ²
  Bernstein JM, Burrows SA, Saunders MW. Lodged oesophageal button battery masquerading as a coin: an unusual cause of bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Emerg Med J. 2007;24(3):e15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emj.2006.044180
  » http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emj.2006.044180
• ³
  Soccorso G, Grossman O, Martinelli M, Marven SS, Patel K, Thomson M, et al. 20 mm lithium button battery causing an oesophageal perforation in a toddler: lessons in diagnosis and treatment. Arch Dis Child. 2012;97(8):746-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2012-301631
  » http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2012-301631
• ⁴
  Litovitz T, Whitaker N, Clark L. Preventing battery ingestions: an analysis of 8648 cases. Pediatrics. 2010;125(6):1178-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3038
  » http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3038

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Sep-Oct 2014

History

• Received
  11 May 2014
• Accepted
  16 June 2014