High-Powered Magnet Exposures in Children: A Multi-Center Cohort Study

Development and Validation of a Clinical Nomogram for Predicting Complications From Pediatric Multiple Magnet Ingestion: A Large Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to develop and validate a reliable nomogram based on clinical factors to predict complications associated with pediatric multiple magnet ingestion, addressing the urgency and controversy surrounding its management.

METHODS

Patients aged 0-18 years with multiple magnet ingestion diagnosed at the Shenzhen Children's Hospital between January 2017 and December 2023 were enrolled. Clinical data were analyzed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and multifactor logistic regression analyses to screen for risk factors. A model was constructed, and a nomogram was plotted. Model performance was evaluated and internally validated using the area under the curve (AUC), Hosmer-Lemeshow test, calibration curve, decision curve analysis, and 1,000 bootstraps. We calculated the optimal cutoff value, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the prediction model.

RESULTS

Of the 146 patients, 57 (39.0%) experienced complications. The nomogram included age, multiple ingestions, vomiting, abdominal pain, and abdominal tenderness. The AUC was 0.941, and the internally validated AUC was 0.930. The optimal cutoff value selected as a predictive value was 0.534, with a sensitivity of 82.5%, specificity of 93.3%, positive predictive value of 88.7%, negative predictive value of 89.3%, and accuracy of 89.0%. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test yielded a P value of 0.750. The calibration plot exhibited high consistency in prediction, and decision curve analysis showed excellent net benefits.

DISCUSSION

Our nomogram demonstrates excellent discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility and may thus help clinicians accurately assess the risk of complications from pediatric multiple magnet ingestion.

Magnetic beads as intravesical foreign bodies in children: our clinical experience

Purpose

To analyze the clinical data of five patients involving intravesical magnetic beads, summarizing diagnostic and therapeutic experiences.

Methods

From January 2018 to November 2023, five pediatric patients were treated for intravesical magnetic beads at Shenzhen Children's Hospital. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the records of these patients, including demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, imaging studies, and treatment methods.

Results

All intravesical magnetic beads were retrieved from patients' bladders. The patients ranged from 12 to 14 years, with a mean age of 13 years. None of them had a history of psychiatric disorders. Depending on the number of magnetic beads, their aggregation state, and the time since insertion, Three cases were successfully retrieved via cystoscopy, one via pneumovesicoscopy, and another via open surgery. No complications were observed during the postoperative follow-up.

Conclusion

Magnetic beads are a relatively rare type of intravesical foreign bodies and should be surgically removed as soon as possible. Cystoscopy is the first method for both diagnosis and treatment. When magnetic beads cannot be retrieved via cystoscopy, pneumovesicoscopy may be a viable option for the retrieval of foreign bodies. When endoscopic techniques are unsuitable or have failed, open surgery is a necessary option.

Fatal bowel perforation caused by ingestion of high-powered magnets in a 6-year-old boy

Foreign body ingestion in children is a frequent cause for medical consultation. Although most foreign bodies are spontaneously eliminated from the gastrointestinal tract, life-threatening complications such as gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation can occur. We report the case of a 6-year-old boy who died 2 days after the onset of nausea and abdominal pain, with no foreign body ingestion witnessed or reported in the previous days. Autopsy showed a diffuse peritonitis and a perforation of the transverse colon caused by three high-powered magnets stacked together, and attached to the outer stomach wall via a fourth magnet located in the stomach. The cause of death was peritonitis due to bowel perforation by ingested magnets, which were shown to have come from a toy belonging to the child. Ingestion of multiple high-powered magnets carries a high risk of gastrointestinal complications and can exceptionally have a fatal outcome, especially as it often goes unreported and causes non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms that can delay diagnosis and management. This case highlights the need to raise public awareness of the potential risks of ingesting such magnets and to strengthen safety standards to protect children from this serious health hazard.

Successful endoscopic removal of high-power magnetic balls embedded in the duodenal wall

The dangers of magnet ingestion are well known. When multiple magnets are ingested, interventional removal is often necessary to prevent and/or treat complications. Despite reports of both endoscopic and surgical techniques in the literature, there is a lack of clear guidance on the best method for removal of high-power magnets when they are embedded within the intestinal wall (increasing concern for fistulation, perforation, and bowel wall necrosis). This case demonstrates the successful endoscopic removal of magnetic balls incidentally identified on X-ray and found to be embedded in the duodenal wall in a critically ill 2-year-old patient. Endoscopic removal can be considered in similar situations, if all resources (interventional endoscopy and pediatric surgery) are available to proceed safely.

Removal of Multiple Ingested Magnets Through Laparoscopic Appendectomy in an Adolescent: A Report of Two Cases

Magnet ingestion can lead to serious health issues, including inflammation, gastrointestinal tract perforation, and even life-threatening complications. Despite legislative actions and numerous reports on the dangers of magnet ingestion in children, it remains a significant public health concern. Physicians must remain vigilant in cases of acute abdomen with ambiguous symptoms or unclear history in young patients. Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention in case of multiple magnet swallowing are crucial to prevent complications. We present two cases of successful removal of ingested magnetic spheres through laparoscopic appendectomy in adolescents. This study aimed to highlight the technical aspects of the procedure to share the benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the management of magnetic foreign bodies (FBs) located in the appendix or cecum.

Magnet ingestion in growing children: a multi-center observational study on single and multiple magnet incidents

Over the past 15 years, there has been a noticeable uptick in incidents involving children ingesting multiple magnetic foreign bodies which can cause injuries and gastrointestinal complications including death. The current study aimed to identify the prevalence, clinical presentation, and management of single or multiple magnet ingestions. A retrospective multi-central cross-sectional study was conducted to include all pediatric patients < 18 years presented to the emergency department with ingestion of single or multiple magnets and admitted across hospitals in Qatar, UAE, KSA, Tunisia, and Turkey between January 2011 and December 2021. Demographics, symptoms, management, and outcomes were analyzed. There were 189 magnet ingestions, of which 88 (46.6%) were multiple magnet ingestions. Most patients (55.6%) were male, and the median age was 3.9 (IQR 2-7) years. An abdominal X-ray was obtained in all cases. 119 (62%) patients were conservatively treated, 53 (28%) required surgical intervention and 17 (8.9%) underwent gastroscopy. None of the patients with single magnet ingestions experienced morbidity or severe outcomes. Multiple magnet ingestions led to significant morbidity including hospitalizations, perforations (44.3%), severe intestinal necrosis (19.3%), peritonitis (13.6%), severe abdominal infection (10.2%), and septic shock (4.5%). The rate of surgical intervention (59.1% vs. 1.0%) and gastroscopy (15.9% vs. 3.0%) was significantly higher in the multiple ingestion group compared to the single magnet ingestion group. No deaths were identified. A high risk of serious complications, including the need for surgery to remove the magnets and substantial morbidity may result from swallowing more than one magnet. Magnet safety requirements, public education, and improved legislation are urgently required.

Management patterns of multiple magnet ingestion reported to New Jersey Poison Information and Education System

BACKGROUND

Ingestion of multiple high-powered neodymium rare-earth magnets poses a significant risk for gastrointestinal (GI) injury such as bowel perforation or ischemia. Given the rising incidence of rare earth magnetic ingestions and the corresponding increase in serious injuries in children, published guidelines recommend urgent endoscopic removal of all magnets within endoscopic reach in cases involving ingestions of two or more magnets.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Do management patterns for multiple magnet ingestion align with current practice guidelines, and does hospital length of stay (LOS) differ based on the initial emergency department (ED) approach?

METHODS

This is a retrospective chart review of consecutive patient encounters reported to the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) between January 2021 and April 2022 involving multiple magnet ingestion. Potential cases were retrieved from the NJPIES TOXICALL® database, using substance codes relating to magnet or foreign body ingestion. Two-sample T tests were used to determine the statistical difference in the hospital LOS between the group of patients receiving early emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) versus those receiving expectant management on initial presentation.

RESULTS

There was a difference in the average LOS of 2.7 days (p = 0.023) longer in the expectant management group with no medical complications in either group. Twenty-five percent or 2 out of 8 cases deviated from guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The initial ED decision to pursue expectant management instead of attempting emergent EGD removal of magnets may result in prolonged hospitalization, increased risk for readmission, and delayed definitive removal of magnets due to nonprogression along the GI tract.

Pediatric Magnet Ingestion with Delayed Presentation: Case Series from Tertiary Center in Saudi Arabia

Swallowing foreign bodies is common in young kids, especially those aged 6 months to 6 years. Magnet ingestion is a hazardous health issue that extremely jeopardizes the most vulnerable group, children, to risks of intestinal obstruction and worse, perforation. We, hereby, report 3 cases of magnet ingestion in the pediatric age group who had multiple beaded magnets stuck inside their GI tract over a variable period of 1 to 10 months before their presentation to the Emergency Department, King Fahad Medical City Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Warning Labels and High-Powered Magnet Exposures

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

High-powered magnets are among the most dangerous childhood foreign bodies. Consumer advocates and physicians have called for these products to be effectively banned, but manufacturers assert warning labels would sufficiently mitigate risk.

METHODS

Subjects from Injuries, Morbidity, and Parental Attitudes Concerning Tiny High-powered Magnets (IMPACT of Magnets), a retrospective, multicenter study of children with high-powered magnet exposures (ie, ingestion or bodily insertion), were contacted. Consenting participants responded to a standardized questionnaire regarding the presence and utility of warning labels, magnet product manufacturer, and attitudes around risk.

RESULTS

Of 596 patients in the IMPACT study, 173 parents and 1 adult patient were reached and consented to participate. The median age was 7.5 years. Subjects reported not knowing if a warning label was present in 60 (53.6%) cases, whereas 25 (22.3%) stated warnings were absent. Warnings were present in 28 (24.1%) cases but only 13 (46.4%) reported reading them. A manufacturer was identified by families in 28 (16.1%) exposures; 25 of these were domestic and 27 had warnings. Subjects reported knowing magnets were dangerous in 58% of the cases, although 44.3% believed they were children's toys and only 6.9% knew high-powered magnets were previously removed from the United States market.

CONCLUSIONS

Over 90% of subjects from the IMPACT study didn't know if warning labels were present or failed to read them if they were, whereas almost half believed high-powered magnets were children's toys. Warning labels on high-powered magnet products are, therefore, unlikely to prevent injuries in children.

Management of Magnet Ingestions at a Large Tertiary Care Children's Hospital

OBJECTIVES

To review the clinical management and outcomes of magnet ingestions at a large tertiary children's hospital. To determine the association of frequency of high-powered magnet ingestion with the regulation of these magnets.

METHODS

Children <18 years who presented to the emergency room and were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for ingestion of single or multiple magnets from January 2008 to December 2020 were included. Demographics, symptoms, management, and outcomes were analyzed. The frequency of magnet ingestion was compared over 3 eras: (1) pre-ban (2008-2012), (2) intra-ban (2013-2016), and (3) post-ban (2017-2020).

RESULTS

There were 167 magnet ingestions, including 99 with multiple magnets. Most patients (59%) were male and median age was 6 (interquartile range, 3-9) years. Most single magnet ingestions (86%) were discharged with outpatient monitoring, and none experienced severe outcomes. Multiple magnet ingestions led to significant morbidity including hospitalizations (68%), endoscopic procedures (48%), surgical procedures (14%), and severe outcomes (12%). Most patients (75%) were asymptomatic, however, there was a higher risk of surgery and severe complications based on the presence of symptoms ( P = 0.003). The rate of surgical intervention was higher with ≥3 magnets (31.7%) compared to 2 magnets (2.4%) ( P < 0.003). Additionally, we found an 160% increase in children with magnet ingestions in the post-ban period ( P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple magnet ingestion is associated with high morbidity and rate of severe outcomes. There is a relationship between public policy of magnet sale and frequency of magnet ingestion.

A �push-and-pull� trick for endoscopic removal of Buckyballs impacted in the esophagus and gastric fundus

As a common foreign body in children, magnet ingestion has been a widespread health issue. Unlike single magnet, ingestion of multiple magnets, especially those high-powered like Buckyballs could cause significant GI injury, e.g., perforation and fistula. Hereby we present a "push-and-pull" trick for management of a rare circumstance of Buckyballs ingestion.