Mahmoud M. Marei

10th Biennial Conference of Pan African Pediatric Surgical Association (PAPSA) in collaboration with 29th Annual meeting of the Egyptian Pediatric Surgical Association (EPSA).

November 2014

Authors: Fares, AE; Marei, Mahmoud M; Tarek, M; Abdelazim, O; Elbarbary, Mohamed M.

Title: Intestinal complications caused by magnetic ingestion in children.

Background/aim: Pediatric magnet ingestions are increasing. Commercial widespread availability of magnetic toys poses a serious health risk. Ingestion of multiple magnets poses a particular risk for many intraabdominal complications in children. When more than one magnetic is ingested, they can be attracted each other through the intestinal wall causing necrosis, intestinal perforation, or fistula. We report our experience with intestinal complications due to ingestion of magnets in six children.

Methods: We present surgical finding and management of six cases of multiple magnet ingested. Age were between 10 months and seven years. All were males. All had surgical removal of magnets and repair of intestinal fistulae and perforation.

Results: Number of ingested magnets was two in four cases, 17 in one and 8 in one case. There were two intestinal fistulae in one patient and one fistula for each of the other five. Refreshing of edges and primary closure was done in four cases and limited small intestinal resection was done in two. All patents recovered without complication except one that required another exploration for leaking anastomosis.

Conclusion: Pediatric multiple magnet ingestions ingestions prompt more imaging and surgical interventions. When more than one magnet is ingested, endoscopic removal will usually fail and laparotomy is almost always necessary. Magnet safety standards are needed to decrease risk to children.

Annals of Pediatric Surgery 2015, 11:65–112

https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.4513.0329

Authors: Ahmed Fares; Mahmoud Marei; Mahmoud Tarek; Osama Abdelazim; Mohamed Elbarbary.

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4513.0329