Singing magnets ingestion: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in children

ABSTRACT

Foreign body ingestion is a common problem in children. Ingested foreign bodies include coins, needles, pins and button batteries. Ingestion of multiple magnets is very rare and poses a unique hazard of intestinal obstruction in children. The ingested magnets may reside in different loops of intestine and attract each other causing necrosis of the intervening wall of intestine. We present the case of a 7-year old child who presented with acute intestinal obstruction due to ingestion of multiple magnets. Patient underwent laparotomy. The loops of small intestine with necrotic walls were found to contain three oblong shaped magnets. Removal of magnets along with resection and anastomosis of affected segment of intestine was performed