Objective: Button battery ingestion causes serious health problems by corrosively damaging the mucous membrane. Early diagnosis and rapid intervention are very important. This study aimed to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of button battery ingestion.

Material and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from patients aged 1 month to 18 years admitted to a tertiary pediatric hospital’s emergency department between January 2023 and December 2024 due to button battery ingestion.

Results: A total of 72 patients were included (69.4% male; median age 36 months [IQR; 22–59.5]). The median presentation time was 90 minutes (IQR; 56.25–180), and only 6 patients (8.3%) were symptomatic. All ingestions were accidental, with 22 (30.6%) witnessed. On direct radiography, the batteries were found in the esophagus (4.2%), stomach (48.6%), and intestine (47.2%). Endoscopic battery removal was performed in 11 patients (15.3%), with a median endoscopy duration of 12 hours (IQR; 6–19). Mucosal changes were observed in 7 (63.6%) of the 11 cases that underwent endoscopy. Batteries in the esophagus were removed within 6 hours. Of the 35 stomach batteries, 8 (22.9%) were removed endoscopically, while the others passed spontaneously. All patients were discharged in stable condition without mortality.

Conclusion: Button battery ingestion is a critical pediatric emergency that particularly affects young children. It must be removed endoscopically as soon as possible to prevent serious complications. However, preventive strategies that limit children’s access to batteries or reduce their harmful effects are of great importance.

Keywords: Button battery, ingestion, endoscopy, pediatric