Opportunity to eliminate preventable harm: Industry must adopt a new safe button or coin cell battery technology that will not cause severe injury inside the body
A button or coin cell battery can cause life-threatening tissue injuries of the esophagus, trachea, or major vasculature. A safe button or coin cell battery should be clearly defined—it will not cause severe tissue injury when lodged in the body but will still adequately function to power electronic devices. Currently, no battery manufacturer sells a safe button or coin cell battery, nor has made the public commitment to produce them. As too many children have already been harmed and other children continue to remain at risk in their households, we strongly encourage all battery manufacturers to act immediately to bring a safe button or coin cell battery to the consumer marketplace. Widespread industry and consumer adoption of such technology will prevent children from severe injuries or death.
Updated September 2024
References
Current management of button battery injuries.
Sethia R, Gibbs H, Jacobs IN, Reilly JS, Rhoades K, Jatana KR. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2021 Apr 15;6(3):549-563. doi: 10.1002/lio2.535. eCollection 2021 Jun. PMID: 34195377.
Philteos J, James AL, Propst EJ, Ostrow O, McKinnon N, Everett T, Wolter NE. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 Jul 1;148(7):677-683. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2022.0848. PMID: 35616924
Vascular Complications in Children Following Button Battery Ingestions: A Systematic Review.
Akinkugbe O, James AL, Ostrow O, Everett T, Wolter NE, McKinnon NK. Pediatrics. 2022 Sep 1;150(3):e2022057477. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-057477. PMID: 36032017
Pediatric Battery-Related Emergency Department Visits in the United States: 2010-2019.
Chandler MD, Ilyas K, Jatana KR, Smith GA, McKenzie LB, MacKay JM. Pediatrics. 2022 Sep 1;150(3):e2022056709. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-056709. PMID: 36032018.
Endorsed by American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
Endorsed by American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO)
Endorsed by American Bronchoesophagological Association (ABEA)
Endorsed by North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (NASPGHAN)
Endorsed by Global Injury Research Collaborative (GIRC)
Endorsed by Society for Ear, Nose, and Throat Advancement in Children (SENTAC)
Endorsed by American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA)
Supported by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Endorsed by European Society of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (ESPO)
Endorsed by European Laryngological Society (ELS)
Endorsed by American College of Surgeons (ACS)
Endorsed by The Triological Society
Important Disclaimer Notice (Updated 7/31/14)
Position statements are approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery or Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Boards of Directors and are typically generated from AAO-HNS/F committees. Once approved by the Academy or Foundation Board of Directors, they become official position statements and are added to the existing position statement library. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of position statements, as guidance for a procedure, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these clinical position statements will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. As with all AAO-HNS/F guidance, this position statement should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. Position statements are not intended to and should not be treated as legal, medical, or business advice.
