Multiple foreign body ingestion and ileal perforation.

Foreign body ingestion is a common problem encountered in the pediatric age group. The swallowed object is often passed with little or no morbidity. Problems ensue if the ingested foreign body is hazardous, is multiple, or becomes impacted. We describe an ileal perforation following the ingestion of an alkaline disc battery, a magnet, and a steel ball impacted in the ileum for about 48 h. The magnet and the steel ball were attracted to each other, forming a composite unit. The disc battery and the magnet were attracted to each other across a loop of ileum, causing necrosis and perforation of the ileum.