Marsha Kay, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Children’s Hospital Cleveland Clinic, Director, Endoscopy Unit, discusses consequences of swallowing magnets particularly when 2 magnets are ingested and attract across the GIT causing a fistula and necessitating surgery.
Summary:
1.Magnet ingestion in kids can cause GIT fistulae that necessitate surgery
2. In 2008 the Consumer Product Safety Commission described magnets as the number one household safety hazard
References and Resources
Saeed A, Johal NS, Aslam A, Brain J, Fitzgerald RJ. Attraction problems following magnet ingestion. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2009 Jul;91(5):W10-2.
Shah SK, Tieu KK, Tsao K. Intestinal Complications of Magnet Ingestion in Children from the Pediatric Surgery Perspective. Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2009 Feb 17.
Robinson AJ, Bingham J, Thompson RL. Magnet induced perforated appendicitis and ileo-caecal fistula formation. Ulster Med J. 2009 Jan;78(1):4-6.
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