Ho Chi Minh City: Swallowing 20 magnets, a boy's small intestine was punctured with 8 holes

Male patient LTP (5 years old, in Ho Chi Minh City) was admitted to the hospital in a state of restlessness, discomfort, abdominal pain, and vomiting. The doctor performed a laparoscopic surgery, recorded 8 holes in the small intestine, and removed 20 magnets.

Medical history showed that on days 1 and 2 the child vomited and had a stomachache, but medication did not help; on day 3 the child had a severe stomachache, walked with a stoop, no fever, vomited moss-green fluid, and was tired. The family took the child to the City Children's Hospital for examination.

20 rusty magnets perforated the small intestine

On September 4, specialist doctor Nguyen Minh Tien, City Children's Hospital, said that here, baby P. had a stomachache, vomited, cried, had abdominal wall resistance, X-ray detected foreign objects in a chain in the upper and lower small intestine, ultrasound recorded enteritis and peritonitis.

After consulting with gastroenterologists, in coordination with surgeons, laparoscopic surgery was performed, 8 holes in the small intestine were recorded and 2 sets of magnets were removed, a total of 20. The magnets removed were rusted, causing serious intestinal damage. The doctors had to suture all the holes in the small intestine.

Five days after surgery, the child no longer had abdominal pain or vomiting, was alert, practiced oral feeding, and had yellow stools. The child continued to be monitored for intestinal mucosal damage as well as gastrointestinal function.

Magnets swallowed by children from small lego blocks

PHOTO: BSCC

Previously, doctors at the City Children's Hospital also removed a foreign object, a round battery, from the upper third of the esophagus of a 21-month-old child.

The rusty battery and esophageal mucosal necrosis were noted. Doctors placed a nasogastric tube to keep the esophagus from narrowing. The child was given broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, gastrointestinal mucosal decongestants, and gastrointestinal secretion-reducing drugs.

Do not let children play with small toys.

Through these cases, Dr. Tien advised parents not to let children play with small toys (regulations state that toys for children 5 years old and under must have a minimum diameter greater than 5 cm).

"If you suspect your child has swallowed a foreign object, take them to the hospital for timely treatment. Avoid leaving it for too long as it can lead to dangerous injuries. It is best not to let young children play with toys containing magnets or batteries, because of the high risk of causing damage to the digestive tract," Dr. Tien advised.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tphcm-nuot-20-vien-nam-cham-ruot-non-be-trai-bi-thung-8-lo-18525090419473383.htm