en
Scientific article
English

Ingestion of magnets: innocent in solitude, harmful in groups

Published inJournal of pediatric surgery, vol. 40, no. 10, p. e33-35
Publication date2005
Abstract

Foreign body ingestion is frequent in children and generally associated with little morbidity. However, some foreign bodies are innocent when ingested as a single object, but may have harmful effect if numerous. We report a 9-year-old girl who swallowed 5 magnets, causing acute intestinal obstruction. At laparotomy, 2 magnets were found in the cecum and 3 in the transverse colon, attracting each other and clasping a segment of ileum in between, causing a complete obstruction of the small intestine. If numerous magnets are ingested, particular concern is advised, and if signs of intestinal distress develop, prompt laparotomy to prevent serious gastrointestinal complications should be performed.

Keywords
  • Acute Disease
  • Child
  • Female
  • Foreign Bodies/complications
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Obstruction/etiology
  • Magnetics
Citation (ISO format)
WILDHABER, Barbara, LE COULTRE, Claude Pierrette, GENIN, Bernard. Ingestion of magnets: innocent in solitude, harmful in groups. In: Journal of pediatric surgery, 2005, vol. 40, n° 10, p. e33–35. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2005.06.022
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
ISSN of the journal0022-3468
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