Surgical removal of ingested magnets in children: A retrospective clinical analysis of 16 patients and review of the literature.

Foreign body ingestion is a common pediatric emergency. Notably, the inadvertent ingestion of magnets is frequently initially asymptomatic, only to be detected days later when gastrointestinal damage has already manifested. We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of 16 pediatric patients who underwent surgical removal of ingested magnets at our hospital between January 2018 and December 2023. This review encompassed the patients' demographic characteristics, the interval from ingestion to admission, clinical presentation, diagnostic techniques, the type and number of ingested magnets, location of injury, surgical interventions, and postoperative outcomes. The study sample comprised 11 boys and 5 girls, with a median age of 3.6 years (range, 1-14 years). The predominant presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (n = 6), abdominal pain accompanied by vomiting (n = 3), and a combination of fever, diarrhea, and seizure (n = 1); 6 patients were asymptomatic. Neodymium bead magnets were the most commonly ingested type, noted in 13 patients. All 16 patients underwent either laparoscopic exploration or laparotomy due to clinical deterioration or confirmed complications. For 13 patients, magnet removal with primary bowel repair was performed, whereas in 3 patients, magnet removal combined with segmental resection and primary bowel repair was necessary. Fifteen of the 16 patients recovered without complications; however, wound infections occurred in 2 patients, and 1 patient required adhesiolysis and segmental resection of the jejunum due to intestinal obstruction. One patient died of septic shock. The 15 surviving patients are currently in excellent condition. Magnet ingestion by children, particularly when multiple magnets are involved, constitutes a surgical emergency. Timely identification and prompt surgical intervention are critical to preventing severe complications. Improved educational and preventive strategies (including public awareness initiatives regarding the hazards of small magnets) are essential to reducing the frequency of these incidents.