부산대학교 도서관

We report a case of a button battery as a nasal foreign body in a 3-year-old male child. An otolaryngologist at another hospital removed the foreign body, however, the child was referred to our hospital the following day with severe damage of the nasal mucosa. We carried out endoscopic nasal surgery under general anesthesia; the damaged tissue was removed and the nasal cavity was flushed copiously with distilled water. At 4 months since this procedure, the child remains asymptomatic.Button batteries as nasal foreign bodies can lead to clinical complications such as nasal septal perforation, atrophic rhinitis, anterior nasal atresia, etc., which can persist or develop several months after removal of the foreign body. These batteries can cause damage both through physical pressure and electrical and alkali burns. The alkaline component of the cell cathode may persist submucosally, to cause chronic damage for several months even after removal. In conclusion, to avoid permanent damage, it is important not only to remove the foreign body promptly, but also to treat or remove any tissues that have been chemically damaged.