Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Foreign body ingestion in adults, particularly an electronic device containing a lithium-based battery, remains a challenging emergency department (ED) presentation, due to limited literature and specific guidelines. Management decisions depend on object characteristics, anatomical location, and symptomatology. We report the unusual case of an alert, 22-year-old female who accidentally ingested a single wireless earbud. On presentation to the ED within an hour of ingestion, she remained asymptomatic with stable vital signs throughout evaluation. An initial erect abdominal radiograph localized the foreign body to the second part of the duodenum. Following multidisciplinary discussion, a conservative "wait-and-watch" approach was adopted. Serial abdominal radiographs demonstrated gradual distal migration, confirming spontaneous passage of the device on day five. This case highlights the importance of individualized risk assessment and underscores the role of conservative management with close radiologic monitoring in selected asymptomatic patients, even when the ingested object is an electronic device containing a sealed lithium-ion battery.
Source: Cureus
Authors: Tanya Machado, Adarsh Nath, Joswin Madtha, Aafreen Vaz
Institution: Sparsh Hospital
Language: English
Topic: Foreign Body Medical Cases
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7127942255