Korean J Gastroenterol.  2019 Jul;74(1):51-56. 10.4166/kjg.2019.74.1.51.

Impaction of Coin Battery in the Appendix

• Rim CB
• Song KH

• KMID: 2453259
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2019.74.1.51

Abstract

Coin batteries are often used in daily life devices and can be easily available. Children can swallow coin batteries, resulting in the need to go to hospital, but this is rare in adults. Adults generally eliminate the swallowed coin battery from the digestive system, unless they have congenital structural abnormalities of the digestive system or complications, such as postoperative stenosis. In this case, a 31-year-old man swallowed three coin batteries, approximately 0.4 cm in diameter emergent endoscopy was unable to find any batteries embedded in the ingested food. An attempt was made to rinse out the batteries by bowel preparation. During the hospital stay, the patient complained of acute abdominal pain and fever. In the abdominal CT scan, impaction of the coin battery into the appendix was confirmed. The patient underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy to prevent appendiceal perforation.

Keyword

Coin battery; Impaction; Appendix; Appendectomy

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adult
Appendectomy
Appendix*
Child
Constriction, Pathologic
Digestive System
Endoscopy
Fever
Humans
Length of Stay
Numismatics*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A, B) Erect and supine abdominal radiography image showed radio-opaque oval shape objects initially suspected to be coin batteries.

• 

  Fig. 2 Supine abdominal radiography image showed radio-opaque oval shape objects in the presumed cecum.

• 

  Fig. 3 (A) Colonoscopy showed two coin batteries in the cecum. (B) No coin battery was observed in the terminal ileum. (C) Two coin batteries were removed using a net snare. (D) No additional material was found after retrieving the batteries.

• 

  Fig. 4 Abdominopelvic computed tomography, axial (A) and coronal (B) view, both showed one coin battery remaining in the appendix (arrows).

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  Fig. 5 Gross specimen of the resected appendix. (A) Congestion and necrosis were progressing from the middle to distal appendix (circle). (B) Incision of the middle appendix revealed a coin battery. (C) Mucous tissue damage due to burning was observed at the site where the coin battery was impacted (arrow).

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