QUAD #4: Surgical Management of Button Battery & Caustic Ingestion with Dr. Aaron Garrison
A 1992 study reviewed more than 2000 cases of button battery ingestion in children and found no deaths.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position0:41 ↗
Recent studies have found a sevenfold increase in fatalities following button battery ingestions.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position0:52 ↗
The increase in fatalities is because of the change to a 20-volt lithium cell which causes coagulative necrosis.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position0:59 ↗
There are 3 locations in the esophagus where button batteries tend to get stuck: the upper esophageal sphincter, behind the aortic arch, and at the lower esophageal sphincter.
clinicalAaron Garrison1:06 ↗
When a button battery sits in one of these positions, it causes transmural injury and will make a fistula between the esophagus and adjacent structures including trachea, blood vessels, or vocal cords.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position1:14 ↗
High-risk criteria include younger patients with smaller esophagus.
clinicalAaron Garrison1:33 ↗
A larger battery over 20 millimeters or greater is riskier.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position1:39 ↗
Longer duration that the battery has been in the esophagus is associated with worse outcomes.
clinicalAaron Garrison1:43 ↗
A battery behind the aortic arch is more concerning.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position1:49 ↗
If a patient has had a battery removed and presents later with a bleed, that is an emergency that needs to be taken seriously and requires a plan.
clinicalAaron Garrison1:52 ↗
In a Colorado study of 13 patients with high severity button battery injuries, 30% had esophageal perforation.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position2:05 ↗
In the Colorado study, 23% of patients developed stricture.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position2:14 ↗
Some patients in the Colorado study required G-tube placement and stayed in the hospital for nearly 2 weeks.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position2:16 ↗
Almost 25% of patients in the Colorado series died.
epidemiologicalAaron Garrison2:22 ↗
Two of the fatalities in the Colorado series presented with the button batteries already in the stomach.
epidemiologicalAaron Garrison2:22 ↗
Sentinel bleeds can be the first sign of aortoenteric fistulas.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position2:32 ↗
Any small communication between the esophagus and the aorta can be potentially life-threatening.
clinicalAaron Garrison2:41 ↗
Some aortoesophageal fistulas showed up over 2 weeks after the batteries were removed.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position2:50 ↗
Aortoesophageal fistulas do not always happen in the hospital, so having a high index of suspicion and a plan for what to do once the battery is removed is helpful.
clinicalAaron Garrison2:55 ↗
For sick patients with esophageal foreign bodies and active bleeding or clinical instability, it is recommended to have GI surgery and CT surgery available for the procedure.
guidelineAaron Garrison3:26 ↗
Imaging beforehand with a CTA to assess inflammation and proximity to the aorta is helpful.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position3:39 ↗
If imaging shows injury close to the aorta, continue NPO and antibiotics and repeat MRI in 5 to 7 days to assess the trajectory of inflammation.
guidelineAaron Garrison3:47 ↗
If there is any bleeding or concern for sentinel bleed, have a plan with interventional radiology, cardiology, or anyone who can help in that situation.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position3:59 ↗
In one case report with a pseudoaneurysm from the arch of the aorta, repair was done with a staged approach: sternotomy on bypass to fix the aorta with a graft, followed by flap repair of the esophagus.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position4:10 ↗
For high-risk patients (less than 5 years old, larger battery size), endoscopic evaluation of the esophagus is recommended because the duration of battery presence higher up than the stomach is unknown.
guidelineAaron Garrison4:30 ↗
The need for ECMO or cardiopulmonary bypass depends on the location of the fistula and whether you can intubate past the injury enough to ventilate during the case.
clinicalAaron Garrison4:43 ↗
If the fistula is near the carina, complex airway reconstruction will be needed and adequate ventilation during the case will not be possible.
clinicalAaron Garrison4:59 ↗
In one case with a large tracheoesophageal fistula, the patient was placed on ECMO because they were unable to adequately ventilate.
clinicalAaron Garrison5:21 ↗
In the Cincinnati Children's case, an interposition graft was performed by removing a segment of trachea and using that trachea as the front wall of the esophagus.
clinicalAaron Garrison5:45 ↗
Button batteries are ingested more than 3500 times per year in the United States.
Host summaryEm Gootee summarizes what Dr. Aaron Garrison said — not the host's own clinical position6:10 ↗