Magnet ingestion in children and its implications: tertiary centre experience.

Background: Swallowing multiple magnets or a magnet and second metallic object can carry risks of intestinal obstruction, fistula and perforation because they can attach to each other with loop of bowel in between. An updated management plan and reviewing our experience are warranted because of increased incidence of magnets ingestion among children.

Methods: All the patients who had a history of single, multiple magnet or single magnet and second metallic object ingestion in Bristol Royal Hospital for children during the period from January 2014 till November 2020 were included in our study.

Results: A total of 46 patients were referred to our hospital with a history of magnet ingestion. The number of magnets ingested ranged between one and twenty one magnets. All patients had abdominal x-ray undertaken either Antero-posterior alone (AP) (n = 32) or both AP and lateral (n = 14). Surgical intervention was performed in 18 patients; Oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (n = 8), laparotomy/laparoscpy (n = 10) to retrieve the magnets or deal with the complications.

Conclusions: Magnets ingestion in children can be tricky when it comes to management. Complications can happen quite often and carry severe risks on children. An updated structured algorithm is proposed to manage children with magnet ingestion.