An X-ray there revealed that a circular foreign battery was lodged in her stomach
Noida: Doctors at a private hospital in Noida have saved a 20-month-old girl after she swallowed a lithium button battery, the ones usually found in toys. Experts said such batteries can cause burns and potentially life-threatening haemorrhage within hours if nearby blood vessels get damaged.In the first week of April, the child’s parents noticed that she was unusually irritable and restless and took her to a private hospital. An X-ray there revealed that a circular foreign battery was lodged in her stomach.She was immediately taken to Fortis Hospital, where doctors performed an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and found that a lithium button battery was present in her stomach. The parents told the doctors that the baby might have swallowed the button battery that was inside one of her favourite toys.“Initially, the battery could not be identified, as it was lying beneath the food bolus,” said Dr Shivam Kalia, who treated the child. “We first removed the food and then took out the lithium battery measuring 5 to 8 mm endoscopically. We also assessed the surrounding mucosa for any early signs of injury.”The doctor said when lithium batteries come into contact with moist tissue, they generate an electrical current that leads to the formation of hydroxide ions, creating a highly alkaline environment.
This can result in rapid tissue injury and can cause significant damage in as little as two hours after ingestion.“If not removed on time, such batteries can cause burns in the oesophagus or stomach lining, leading to complications such as deep ulceration, perforation and, in severe cases, life-threatening bleeding if adjacent blood vessels are involved. The risk is particularly high in young children, where ingestion is often unwitnessed and early symptoms may remain nonspecific,” the doctor said.In this case, early imaging and swift intervention proved critical. The battery was removed within a narrow time window, limiting exposure and reducing the risk of complications. The child remained clinically stable after the procedure, resumed oral intake and was discharged after a short period of observation without any immediate adverse effects.“Timely diagnosis in such cases depends on maintaining a high index of suspicion. Symptoms such as sudden irritability, drooling, vomiting or refusal to eat should not be overlooked, especially in toddlers. With lithium button batteries commonly found in household items such as remote controls, toys, watches and small electronic devices, it is advised that parents ensure these are securely stored and kept out of children’s reach, emphasising that early medical attention can significantly improve outcomes in what can otherwise become a life-threatening emergency,” the doctor added.
