Button battery ingestion in children: Update and practical approach

The ingestion of button batteries is an increasingly recognized medical emergency in pediatrics, particularly among children under the age of 6. These batteries, which are widely used in everyday electronic devices, can cause serious and potentially life-threatening injuries, especially when they become lodged in the esophagus. Timely diagnosis and immediate intervention are essential to prevent serious complications, including perforation, mediastinitis, and fistula formation. This review summarizes the most recent clinical practice guidelines, with an emphasis on pathophysiology, clinical implications, management criteria, and follow-up recommendations, to provide an up-to-date framework for the diagnostic and therapeutic approach in pediatric patients.