Long-Term Complications of Button Batteries in the Nose

Satvinder Singh Bakshi; V Nirmal Coumare; Madhu Priya; Sithananda Kumar

doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.10.041

Long-Term Complications of Button Batteries in the Nose

J Emerg Med. 2016 Mar;50(3):485-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.10.041. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

Authors

Satvinder Singh Bakshi¹, V Nirmal Coumare¹, Madhu Priya¹, Sithananda Kumar¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pillaiyarkuppam, Pondicherry, India.

PMID: 26803190
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.10.041

Abstract

Background: One of the common emergencies presenting to the emergency department is a child who has inserted a foreign body into their nose. Of the various things that children insert accidently, the most dangerous are button batteries.

Case report: We followed up 11 cases of children with history of button battery insertion in the nose for 1 year. We found that all of the patients had developed a septal perforation; other sequelae included nasal adhesions and saddle nose. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Button batteries in the nose are dangerous and can lead to early complications with long-term consequences for the patients. Early diagnosis is required so that they can be removed as soon as possible to prevent the development of complications and long-term sequelae.

Keywords: button battery; foreign body; nose.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Child
Child, Preschool
Electric Power Supplies
Female
Foreign Bodies / complications*
Humans
Infant
Male
Nasal Septum / injuries*
Nose*