Post extubation stridor due to bilateral vocal cord palsy following button battery ingestion – A rare and forgotten complication of button battery ingestion in children
Abstract
We report a patient who developed bilateral vocal cord palsy following button battery ingestion.
A two and half year old girl presented with a history of button battery ingestion. Rigid oesophagoscopy was performed within 3 hours. Patient developed post extubation stridor with respiratory distress.
Bilateral vocal cord palsy is a rare complication of button battery ingestion which can lead to an airway catastrophe. Decision on timing of extubation is crucial to avoid immediate post-operative respiratory distress.
Expedited removal of lodged button battery, increased vigilance for possible complications and long term follow up is of utmost importance.
© 2016 Puwackwaththa Arachchige Lochanie Nimali, Senaka Weerakoon, published by College of Anaesthesiologists of Sri Lanka
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