Successful operation for boy who ‘swallowed’ coin battery

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

A four-year-old boy who accidently swallowed a coin battery was the first pediatric patient to visit the King Hamad American Mission Hospital (KHAMH) in A’Ali as it softly opened its doors to the public.

Dr. Souhail Shabib, Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterology, Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics, said that the coin battery was removed via endoscopy in AMH Manama two days earlier, and the child was seen at KHAMH for follow-up.

According to Dr. Shabib, Lithium coin batteries are extremely dangerous when swallowed. They attach themselves to the gut wall, mainly in the esophagus, and download their electric charge burning the esophageal wall within two hours. This may be complicated with the perforation of the esophagus and may even cause death in some cases.

In this patient’s case, the battery was removed in less than two hours from the time of swallowing it revealing an already burned area under the site where the battery was found. Dr. Shabib said Lithium coin batteries, magnets, small and loose plastic toys, and loose remote control must be kept out children’s reach.