Lithium Battery Esophageal Impaction in Pediatrics: From Simple Removal to Management of Complex Tracheoesophageal Lesions—Report of 3 Cases and Literature Review

Lithium button battery ingestion represents a growing pediatric emergency, potentially associated with severe local and systemic complications. This article reports three cases of lithium battery ingestion with varying degrees of esophageal and tracheal involvement, treated at a pediatric surgery referral hospital in Brazil between 2023 and 2024. In addition, a review of the literature addressing pathophysiology, diagnostic and therapeutic management, and predictors of severity is presented. The reported cases illustrate the wide spectrum of injury severity and the impact of delays in medical care related to structural limitations commonly encountered in low‐ and middle‐income countries. An adaptive strategy for the management of severe airway injury in the absence of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support is also described.