Gastrojejunal fistula caused by magnet beads ingestion in a 2 -year-old boy

Abstract

Foreign body (FB) ingestions are common events in infants and toddlers. Magnet ingestion increases in the last decades among children and it may be catastrophic if not detected.A 2-year-old-boy was brought to an emergency department for bilious vomiting for five days associated with abdominal pain and constipation.An erect abdominal X-ray showed a radiopaque chain of beads in the upper abdomen, gastric and duodenal gas bubbles with air fluids levels, and a gasless abdomen.Exploratory laparotomy through upper midline incision was performed. In our case, the magnet beads were just beyond the ligament of Treitz and made the jejunal loop as an omega shape that fistulized to the posterior wall of the stomach through the mesentery of the transverse colon.All magnet beads were extracted and the perforations in the jejunum and posterior wall of the stomach were both closed primarily. Conclusion: It is crucial to intervene early in symptomatic patients with multiple magnets ingestion, especially if it is located beyond the stomach, to prevent future complications like hollow viscus perforations, fistula formation, and even short bowel syndrome.

Keywords

• Gastrojejunal fistula
• Magnet ingestion
• Children