A 3-year-old boy from Jerusalem was playing with his father’s car keys when he managed to open the remote and remove a small button battery. He later complained of stomach pain, but showed no signs of choking or distress. Only when his older brother told the father that he had seen him swallow something, the family rushed to Hadassah Mount Scopus. An X-ray in the pediatric emergency department clearly showed the battery lodged in his esophagus and causing acute damage.
Button battery ingestion in children – a medical emergency
After the X-ray, the team immediately called Dr. Ze’ev Davidovics, a senior pediatric gastroenterologist.
“Removing a button battery from a child’s esophagus is an emergency procedure,” Dr. Davidovics said. “Under general anesthesia we performed an urgent endoscopy. A thin tube with a camera and tiny instruments was inserted through the mouth, allowing us to locate and carefully extract the battery. After removal we examined the tissue to assess the level of injury. In many cases, children are admitted for observation, given anti-inflammatory medication and pain control, and sometimes fed through a tube to let the esophagus heal safely.”
The surgery was performed by Dr. Davidovics together with Prof. Dan Arbel, anesthesiologist Dr. Omer Ramadan, operating room nurses and gastroenterology nurses. The team discovered that the battery had already begun to cause significant damage.
Fast damage to the esophagus – minutes matter
“Button batteries release an electric current when they get stuck in tissue,” Dr. Davidovics explained. “They create an internal burn at the point of contact and to the surrounding tissue. Within minutes the esophagus can be injured, and within hours life-threatening perforations can form. This is why button battery ingestion is considered one of the most severe pediatric emergencies and must be treated without delay.”
After the operation, the boy was moved to the pediatric intensive care unit for monitoring, anti-inflammatory medication, pain relief and, if needed, feeding by tube. He gradually recovered, began drinking and eating, and was discharged home.
Recovery and thanks
“He is playing, breathing well and functioning almost normally,” the father said. “He still needs medication and follow-up, but the team saved his life.”
Advice for parents
The Hadassah pediatric team warns that any suspected ingestion of a battery, magnet or sharp object requires immediate medical attention:
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Do not cause vomiting
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Do not put fingers into the child’s mouth
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Do not give food or drink
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Go straight to an emergency department
“For children older than one year, honey can reduce tissue damage on the way to hospital,” Dr. Davidovics added. “But only above age one.”
He also notes that even if a child seems fine after swallowing a foreign object, a medical check is necessary, since inflammation can worsen days or even weeks later.
The boy remains under follow-up care and is expected to fully recover.
