Cylindrical Battery Ingestion: Original Image

Abstract

42 20-year-old woman was brought in to our emergency department after ingesting cylindrical battery as a suicide attempt. She had severe epigastric pain. Laboratory findings showed no abnormalities. Her medical history revealed asthma and operation secondary to key ingestion. The abdominal X-ray showed 8 cylindrical batteries; located in the stomach (6) and duodenum (2) (Figure 1). When consulted with psychiatry she was diagnosed bipolar. Patient was admitted to follow-up the discharge of batteries. Next day, abdominal X-ray showed the passage of 3 batteries to the colon (Figure 2). Since she had severe continuous epigastric pain, shortness of breath and tenderness in physical examination, endoscopy was planned. Three of the batteries entrapped in the stomach were removed (Figure 3). As she had asthma, in order to prevent allergic reaction colonoscopy was intended but could not be performed due to the inadequate bowel preparation. Remaining batteries were observed until passage by stool was confirmed.