2020 CPSC CPSRMS Injury Data
The following data is released and published by CPSC Staff from the Consumer Product Safety Risk Management System. Collections of anecdotal injury data are useful for showing what types of injuries are possible, as well as providing a baseline for a minimum number of incidents, but is not useful for population-wide statistical injury projections. If you have difficulty viewing this, you may download the data set here.
Ingestions Associated with Magnets (All Ages)
1/1/2010 – 12/31/2020*
*Based on reports entered in CPSC’s CPSRMS database no later than 1/8/2021. This spreadsheet excludes certain retailer/manufacturer reports that did not have an in-depth investigation (IDI) or that had a terminated IDI. In general, the information in IDIs expands on and, in some cases may contradict, information in the incident narratives below. Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of these data particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC. This spreadsheet was prepared by CPSC staff, has not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission.
| # | Document # | Year & Month (YYYYMM) | Incident Narrative | State | Age & Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 120531CCC3694 H1020044A | 201001 | A NINE YEAR-OLD MALE INGESTED SEVEN SMALL MAGNETIC BALLS (APPROXIMATLEY 4MM EACH). THE CHILD HAD LINKED UP THE SEVEN MAGNETS AND PUT THEM IN HIS MOUTH BETWEEN HIS LOWER LIP AND AND LOWER GUM. THE CHILD ACCIDENTLY SWALLOWED ALL SEVEN MAGNETS. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE AN ABDOMINAL SCAN SHOWED THAT THE SEVEN MAGNETS HAD FORMED A “LOOP” AND WERE NOT RESTRICTING ANY INTERNAL ORGANS. FOUR DAYS LATER THE CHILD SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE SEVEN MAGNETS IN HIS STOOL. HE DID NOT REQUIRE SURGERY. HE HAD NO INJURY. | WA | 9 YOM |
| 2 | I1020615A | 201002 | 7 YOM INGESTED A SMALL MAGNET THAT CAME FROM A BUILDING TOY BLOCK. X-RAY SHOWED ONLY ONE MAGNET, BUT CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF IT CONTAINS LEAD. | VA | 7 YOM |
| 3 | I1280321A | 201005 | A previously healthy 8-year-old girl was well until 7 days before admission, when she developed abdominal pain and non-bilious, post-prandial vomiting. The pain was periumbilical, intermittent, and worse with eating. She visited her physician once and her local Emergency Department (ED) twice, and on each encounter her history and examination were not felt to merit investigation, and no imaging was done. On the 8th day of symptoms, she returned to a local ED, where she appeared to be in no distress, moved and walked normally, and had only mild, diffuse abdominal tenderness. Chest and abdominal radiographs revealed 7 metallic objects in a stacked column projecting over her stomach, and interpreted as likely gastric in location. After the images were obtained, the patient recalled ingesting three toy magnets. After transfer to our center, she remained well appearing, with continued mild abdominal pain. She reported continued post-prandial vomiting without fever, diarrhea, or rectal bleeding. On examination, | WA | 8 YOF |
| 4 | 100804CCC2986 I1080155A | 201005 | A THREE YEAR OLD MALE INGESTED SIX MAGNETS FROM A BUILDING SET AND SURGERY WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED TO REMOVE THEM FROM HIS INTESTINES. THE VICTIM WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND IS STILL RECOVERING FROM HIS INJURY. THE BUILDING SET IS BELIEVED TO BE SUBJECT TO RECALL [redacted]. | IL | 3 YOM |
| 5 | I1070197A | 201007 | A 5 YOM SWALLOWED A METAL BALL FROM A BUILDING SET. THE METAL BALL WAS 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER. | PA | 5 YOM |
| 6 | 100708CCC1922 I1070306A | 201007 | A DAY CARE PROVIDER REPORTED THAT A FOUR YEAR-OLD MALE SWALLOWED A TOY MAGNET WHICH WAS PART OF A LARGER SET OF TOY MAGNETS DESIGNED FOR TOY BUILDING AND TOY CONSTRUCTION. THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO A PHYSICIAN AND EXAMINED. THE PHYSICIAN DETERMINED THAT NO LIFE THREATENING HAZARD EXISTED AND THE MAGNET WAS ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH THE CHILDS DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. NO SURGERY OR OTHER MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. THE CHILD DID NOT INCUR ANY OTHER PHYSICAL INJURY. | SC | 4 YOM |
| 7 | 100822HEP7532 | 201008 | A 6 YEAR OLD MALE SWALLOWED A BALL TO A MAGNETIC BUILDING SET. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR AN XRAY TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ONLY ONE BALL. IF IT HAD BEEN TWO MAGNETIC BALLS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PROBLEMATIC. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM. | TX | 6 YOM |
| 8 | I1080478A | 201008 | 4 YOF SWALLOWED A SMALL MAGNET THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A TOY NECKLACE. CONSUMER THINKS THE PRODUCT IS UNSAFE AND HAS PARTS THAT ARE CHOKING HAZARDS. | MS | 4 YOF |
| 9 | I1290579A | 201009 |
My partners and I have treated several patients with perforation of the intestines caused by the ingestion of [redacted] magnets over the past 2 years
One patient presented with emesis, abdominal pain and tenderness. Serial KUB was performed: Multiple radioopaque beads (2-3, and a ring of 13) were seen stuck together and did not move. Patient underwent laparoscopic exploration. Patient had pressure induced bowel necrosis and perforation caused by adherence of the beads to one another. All beads were removed via enterotomy or through the perforations. Patient recovered uneventfully. | Unk | |
| 10 | I1290579B | 201009 |
My partners and I have treated several patients with perforation of the intestines caused by the ingestion of [redacted] magnets over the past 2 years
One patient presented with emesis, abdominal pain and tenderness. Serial KUB was performed: Multiple radioopaque beads (2-3, and a ring of 13) were seen stuck together and did not move. Patient underwent laparoscopic exploration. Patient had pressure induced bowel necrosis and perforation caused by adherence of the beads to one another. All beads were removed via enterotomy or through the perforations. Patient recovered uneventfully. | Unk | |
| 11 | I1290579C | 201009 |
My partners and I have treated several patients with perforation of the intestines caused by the ingestion of [redacted] magnets over the past 2 years
One patient presented with emesis, abdominal pain and tenderness. Serial KUB was performed: Multiple radioopaque beads (2-3, and a ring of 13) were seen stuck together and did not move. Patient underwent laparoscopic exploration. Patient had pressure induced bowel necrosis and perforation caused by adherence of the beads to one another. All beads were removed via enterotomy or through the perforations. Patient recovered uneventfully. | Unk | |
| 12 | I1290579D | 201009 |
My partners and I have treated several patients with perforation of the intestines caused by the ingestion of [redacted] magnets over the past 2 years
One patient presented with emesis, abdominal pain and tenderness. Serial KUB was performed: Multiple radioopaque beads (2-3, and a ring of 13) were seen stuck together and did not move. Patient underwent laparoscopic exploration. Patient had pressure induced bowel necrosis and perforation caused by adherence of the beads to one another. All beads were removed via enterotomy or through the perforations. Patient recovered uneventfully. | Unk | |
| 13 | 100908CCC2107 I1090310A | 201009 | THE COMPLAINANT’S 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SWALLOWED TWO (2) SMALL MAGNETS FROM A TOY NOVELTY SET. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE X-RAYS SHOWED THE 2 MAGNETS IN HER INTESTINE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PASS THE THE 2 SMALL MAGNETS AND DIDN’T REQUIRE ANY FURTHER MEDICAL ATTENTION. | MN | 12 YOF |
| 14 | 100929CBB2179 I1090968A | 201009 | A 10 YEAR-OLD MALE SWALLOWED TWO SMALL BALL-SHAPED MAGNETS WHEN HE WAS PLAYING WITH THEM IN HIS MOUTH TO FEEL THE MAGNETIC PULL OF THE TWO BALLS THROUGH THE TIP OF HIS TONGUE. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE ER, BUT WAS NOT HOSPITALIZED. A FEW DAYS LATER, HE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE MAGNETS WITH A BOWEL MOVEMENT. THE REMAINING INCIDENT MAGNETS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE CONSUMER FOR COLLECTION. | IL | 10 YOM |
| 15 | I10A0797A | 201010 | AFTER THE MAGNET PACKAGE WAS OPENED, 3 OF THE MAGNET PARTS BECAME UNGLUED & 23 MOM CHILD ATE ONE OF THE MAGNET PART. | MA | 23 MOM |
| 16 | I1280260A | 201011 | A 14-year-old male previously healthy male was trying to separate two [redacted] (sic) magnets with his teeth and inadvertently swallowed them. He had transient abdominal pain and vomiting the next day and sought medical attention. The balls are measured radiographically as 6 mm in diameter, appearing beyond the stomach. The patient was managed as an inpatient with a bowel clean-out regimen and interval radiographs. The balls stopped moving on hospital day 3, at which time there were removed from the cecum via colonoscopy. The patient was discharged soon afterwards. | WA | 14 YOM |
| 17 | I1290532A | 201012 | A 15 year old girl was playing with a two-part “fake tongue ring” that consisted of two identical small spherical ball magnets, approximately 0.5 cm based on radiographs. She got them from a friend “who had a whole lot of them in a plastic container”. She doesn’t know the name or where they were purchased. She was pretending to have a pierced tongue and she swallowed one of them. She said her stomach “felt kind of weird”. She had an abdomincal xray that showed a single spherical ball in her stomach. She was discharged with a plan to see if it passed and follow-up if symptomatic. She did not return to care and believes it passed. | WA | 15 YOF |
| 18 | 110112CBB2269 I10C0915A | 201012 | A 3 YEAR-OLD FEMALE SWALLOWED EIGHT SMALL ROUND MAGNETS OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS. THE MAGNETS HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE HOME’S REFRIGERATOR DOOR. THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE THE MAGNETS WERE SURGICALLY REMOVED FROM THE CHILD’S ESOPHAGUS AND STOMACH. | MN | 3 YOF |
| 19 | 120531CBB1713 I11A0109A | 201012 | A TWO YEAR OLD FEMALE INGESTED SEVERAL MAGNETIC SPHERES FROM A BUILDING SET THAT SHE OBTAINED FROM HER FATHER’S WORK BAG. THE SPHERES CAUSED SMALL HOLES IN THE LINING OF HER STOMACH AND WERE SURGICALLY REMOVED. SHE HAS FULLY RECOVERED. THE FATHER WAS AWARE THAT THE SET WAS NOT A CHILDREN’S TOY, WHICH IS WHY HE STORED IT IN HIS WORK BAG AND USED IT WHILE AT WORK. | FL | 2 YOF |
| 20 | 120531CCC3692 I10C0617A | 201012 | A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL BROUGHT ABOUT A DOZEN MAGNETIC BALLS TO SCHOOL AND SHOWED THEM TO HER CLASSMATES. ONE OF HER 13 YEAR OLD FRIENDS PLACED THREE OF THESE MAGNETIC BALLS IN HER MOUTH. SHE WANTED TO SEE IF THE MAGNETIC BALLS WOULD MIMIC A TONGUE PIERCING. SHE ENDED UP SWALLOWING THE THREE MAGNETIC BALLS. THE GIRL WENT TO THE SCHOOL NURSE WHO NOTIFIED THE GIRL’S MOTHER. THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS EXAMINED AND X-RAYED. THE MAGNETIC BALLS PASSED THROUGH THE GIRL’S BODY. | AZ | 13 YOF |
| 21 | 110131HEP7521 | 201012 | 3 YEAR OLD FEMALE INJESTED A TOY MAGNETIC TRIANGLE FROM A BUILDING SET. SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS AT A FRIENDS HOME. THE TOY HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM THE PATIENT EARLIER IN THE DAY BUT SHE MANAGED TO GET A HOLD OF IT AROUND BEDTIME AND INJESTED IT. THE TOY HAD TO BE SURGICALLY REMOVED. SHE WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SPEND TWO NIGHTS THERE. | TX | 3 YOF |
| 22 | 110120CBB3387 I1110650A | 201101 | A 4-YEAR-OLD MALE SUFFERED PERFORATIONS TO HIS INTESTINES AFTER HE SWALLOWED THREE SMALL, METAL, BALL-SHAPED MAGNETS. THE VICTIM WAS HOSPITALIZED AND SURGERY WAS PERFORMED TO REMOVE THE MAGNETS. HE HAS SINCE RECOVERED FROM HIS INJURIES. | MA | 4 YOM |
| 23 | 110613CNE0090 I1160250A | 201101 | A NINE YEAR OLD FEMALE SWALLOWED A SINGLE BALL SHAPED MAGNET. THE CHILD HAD HER HANDS FULL AND PUT THE SINGLE MAGNET IN HER MOUTH TO CARRY IT ACROSS THE ROOM, WHICH RESULTED IN HER ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOWING IT. THE CHILD WAS EXAMINED IN THE E/R. AN X-RAY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NOT LODGED ANYWHERE. A FOLLOW UP X-RAY A WEEK LATER SHOWED THAT THE MAGNET HAD PASSED OUT OF THE CHILD’S BODY WITHOUT ANY INJURY. | NJ | 9 YOF |
| 24 | X1210935A 120130CNE1512 | 201101 | 10 YOF was at school and was playing with ball bearing magnets that were a part of a building set when she swallowed two of them. She was taken to the hospital where she remained for 5 days. A surgeon manipulated the magnets to her appendix and then removed the appendix. | VA | 10 YOF |
| 25 | 120531CCC2789 I1110331A | 201101 | THE 14-YEAR-OLD FEMALE VICTIM SWALLOWED TWO SMALL BALL-SHAPED HIGH POWERED MAGNETS WHILE MIMICKING A TONGUE PIERCING. THE VICTIM WAS LYING ON HER BACK ON THE FLOOR OF HER HOME WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VICTIM HAD NO PROBLEMS AFTER THE INCIDENT AND DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. | OH | 14 YOF |
| 26 | I1280267A | 201102 | A 9-year-old female swallowed 2 small, round magnets. No further history is available. They initially appeared to be in the stomach, but they moved past the stomach before endoscopy was arranged. They were then followed with a total of 4 sets of xrays for 4 days. They passed spontaneously without complications. | WA | 9 YOF |
| 27 | X1131038A 100224CWE1093 (Terminated) N1020334A | 201102 | A 14 YOF wound up spending 4 days in the hospital after her accidentally swallowed 4 small magnets. She tried to wear the magnet as tongue rings & put them on her tongue & they slid to the back of her throat. She tried coughing them out & it did not work. Doctors were able to get 2 of the 4 magnets out. | MO | 14 YOF |
| 28 | 110311HCC3475 I1130013A | 201102 | VICTIM, AN 18 MONTH OLD BOY, SWALLOWED THREE MAGNETIC BALLS WHILE VISITING AT HIS AUNTS HOME. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHEN HE SWALLOWED THE MAGNETS. VICTIM REQUIRED SURGERY TO REMOVE THE MAGNETS AS WELL AS 9 INCHES OF INTESTINE. HE CONTINUES TO HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. | NV | 18 MOM |
| 29 | 110331CBB3525 X1131037A | 201102 | AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MALE SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES WHEN HE SWALLOWED SOME RARE EARTH MAGNETS THAT CAME IN A SET HIS PARENTS PURCHASED FOR HIM FROM AN INTERNET RETAILER. ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, THE VICTIM WAS HOSPITALIZED AND REQUIRED SURGERY FROM THE MAGNETS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE CHILD’S INTESTINES. | CO | 8 YOM |
| 30 | X1130288A 110310CCC1393 | 201103 | AN 8 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS STOMACH PROBLEM AFTER SHE SWALLOWED TWO SMALL MAGNETS THAT BONDED TOGETHER. SHE MAY HAVE HAD THEM IN THE MOUTH LIKE A LIP RING. | NC | 8 YOF |
| 31 | 110331CBB3526 X1131039A | 201103 | THE VICTIM IS A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL THAT SWALLOWED 4 MAGNETIC BALL BEARINGS WHILE PRETENDING SHE HAD A TONGUE PIERCING. THE VICTIM COMPLAINED OF PAIN TO HER ABDOMEN AND WAS TAKEN TO THE ER FOR A CAT SCAN. RESULTS INDICATED SHE HAD 4 SMALL MAGNETIC BALL BEARINGS IN HER INTESTINES NEAR HER APPENDIX. THE VICTIM REQUIRED FURTHER MEDICAL INTERVENTION. | CO | 15 YOF |
| 32 | H1140074A 110411CNE0014 (Terminated) | 201103 |
A 2 year old girl ingested 9 magnets from this product. Approximately 2 weeks passed between the time the child ingested the balls and when she was transferred to the hospital. The child experienced abdominal pain and weight loss.
The child had to have surgery to remove the balls. The balls were partly in her intestine and partly in mesentery. The child was kept at the hospital for 5 days after the surgery. | 2 YOF | |
| 33 | I1270535A 140116CAA3290 | 201104 | My two year old daughter [REDACTED] ingested about 15 [small magnet balls] that were given as a gift to her older sister. At that time the label said for age 8+. She was hospitalized. she had to have intestinal surgery to remove the blockage from her intestine at hospital. | TX | 2 YOF |
| 34 | 120130CBB3341 H1180168A | 201106 | A 10 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS GIVEN FOUR METAL MAGNETIC BALLS BY A FRIEND. SHE STUCK THEM TO HER BRACES AND INADVERTENTLY SWALLOWED THEM. SHE IMMEDIATELY TOLD HER MOTHER, WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY REMOVED THEM WITH A COLONSCOPY SCOPE. SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED AND HAS SINCE RECOVERED. | CA | 10 YOF |
| 35 | I1280586A | 201108 | An 18-month old choked on a magnetic bead that was part of a hematite bracelet, was blue around the lips and not making a sound. Her mom thumped her on the back, she coughed and seemed to swallow the bead. She sought care in the emergency department, where the bead was seen on xray overlying her stomach. She was discharged home and the parents observed the bead in her diaper a few days later. | WA | 18 MOF |
| 36 | I1280513A | 201108 | A 7-year-old male gagged then swallowed a magnet stick and metal ball after a younger child stuck them in his mouth. He presented to the Emergency Department the same day without symptoms. [redacted] Images showed the stick, with a small magnet at each end, and ball appearing connected to one end of the stick, in the area of the ileum. Due to concern of the possibility of bowel loops between the two, serial images and a CT scan were obtained over his hospital course. The patient received 4 sets of plain films total. He was hospitalized 3 days and 2 nights and received go-lytely via ng tube. The magnet stick and ball passed without further intervention. | WA | 7 YOM |
| 37 | I1280262A | 201109 | An 8-year-old girl was given 4 small magnetic balls by a boy at school whose mother bought them online. She put them in her mouth and accidentally swallowed them. She had no symptoms and was not hospitalized. She had 3 daily visits to the emergency department or clinic, and 3 sets of images to demonstrate that the magnets were moving along the intestinal tract. On the 3rd set, the balls were gone. | WA | 8 YOF |
| 38 | X1190950A 110929CAA2062 (Terminated) | 201109 |
Doctos warn about magnet toy danger
An 8-year-old boy has an abdominal scar and a story about how he swallowed a dozen magnetic balls. “My baby sister made me laugh,” he said as he showed [redacted] how he tipped his head back and the magnets slid down his throat. The complications started that night when the magnets stuck to each other through the walls of his colon and bowel. His grandmother said he was throwing up and in incredible pain. Then, an X-ray showed the magnets lined up in a row – stuck in his abdomen. The boy was rushed into surgery [redacted]. | GA | 8 YOM |
| 39 | 120130CBB3339 I11B0328A | 201109 | A TEN YEAR OLD FEMALE RECEIVED FOUR SMALL MAGNETIC BALLS FROM A FRIEND AT SCHOOL. SHE TOOK THEM HOME AND WHEN WATCHING TELEVISION REALIZED THAT SHE HAD SWALLOWED THREE OF THE FOUR MAGNETIC BALLS. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAD LAPAROSCOPIS SURGERY TO HAVE THEM REMOVED. SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR TWO DAYS AND RELEASED. | CA | 10 YOF |
| 40 | 120130CBB2294 I11B0231A | 201110 | A MOTHER REPORTED THAT HER 13 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SWALLOWED FIVE SMALL BALL-SHAPED HIGH POWERED MAGNETS WHILE SHE WAS MIMICKING A LIP PIERCING. HER DAUGHTER REQUIRED SURGERY TO REMOVE THE MAGNETS, AND SHE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR 14 DAYS. | IL | 13 YOF |
| 41 | 120723CBB3780 I1250121A | 201110 | A 2 YEAR OLD GIRL SWALLOWED TWO MAGNETS WHICH ULTIMATELY HAD TO BE REMOVED ENDOSCOPICALLY. THE MAGNETS WERE 3/16″ IN DIAMETER AND SPHERICAL IN SHAPE. | WA | 2 YOF |
| 42 | I11B0398A 120130CBB3340 | 201111 | My 2 year old daughter found [small magnetic balls] laying around. These balls were given as a gift of to my husband December, 2010. She swallowed 13 magnetic balls. We only knew she ate them because she told us and we found the remaining on the floor next to her. She complained of a stomach ache and began throwing up. We rushed her to the nearest hospital after reading the warning on the box they came in. She vomitted a total of 12 times throughout the entire night. We were transferred to 3 total hospitals because none of the hospitals had the right equipment to get the balls out. We had to stay there overnight while we waited for the Dr. to use endoscopy to fish the balls out of her stomach. One was caught in her esophogus, 12 were in her stomach. They stayed in her stomach for a total of 6 hours before she got treatment. She had 2 Xrays 3 hours apart and the balls luckily stayed in her stomach without passing through to the intestines. | 2 YOF | |
| 43 | I1240361A 120723CBB1861 (Terminated) | 201112 |
10 yo M with autism, while at home, swallowed small round magnets. Admitted later to his mother that he had done so. Mom brought him to the emergency department.
Underwent removal with upper endoscopy under general anesthesia. 4 magnets were present: 2 in the antrum of the stomach and 2 in the duodenum. There was fold of the stomach and duodenum between the two that potemntially could haev caused pressure ulceration and subsequently perforation in hours to days if left untreated. Patient underwent successful removal and was sent home. | 10 YOM | |
| 44 | 140115CAA1287 I12B0086A | 201112 | A 22 MONTH-OLD BOY BEGAN VOMITING AND HAVING DIARRHEA. THE BOY’S SYMPTOMS GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE AND HE BECAME LETHARGIC. THREE DAYS LATER THE BOY WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DETERMINED HE HAD INGESTED NINE HIGH-POWERED SPHERICAL MAGNETS FROM A SET OF THE MAGNETIC TOYS WHICH BELONGED TO HIS 14 YEAR-OLD BROTHER. THE BOY REQUIRED SURGERY TO REMOVE THEM FROM HIS STOMACH AND TWO AREAS OF HIS SMALL INTESTINES. ANOTHER SURGERY WAS REQUIRED FOR AN INCISIONAL HERNIA THE BOY DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRST SURGERY. | NJ | 22 MOM |
| 45 | I1250013A | 201201 | 5 yo male presented to outside ER with abdominal pain, found to have multiple radio-opaque foreign bodies on plain film, appeared to be in stomach. No known ingestion of anything, but sister had been making bracelets and they presumed he’d eaten one of her bracelets. Specifically the family denied any potential magnet or battery ingestion, as these bracelets were just with metal non-magnetic beads. He complained of pain so we scheduled an endoscopy to remove this foreign body, but on repeat films at our institution he had a massive stool burden, constipation by history, and pain was predominantly periumbilical. After confirming again that there was no potential magnet or battery ingestion we offered his mother the option to proceed with endoscopy or try to address his contipation medically and see if this improved his pain. She elected to do the latter. Over the next week he continued to complain of stable unchanged mild pain and the foreign bodies remained unchanged in position, so we rescheduled the endoscopy. | UT | 5 YOM |
| 46 | I1280264A | 201201 | An 8-year-old male was sticking magnets on his braces when he accidentally swallowed two of them. He was asymptomatic. An attempt to remove them endoscopically failed as they had moved beyond the stomach. He recieved miralax and was admitted for serial imaging and evaluations. He was admitted for 3 days, 2 nights. At a phone call the day after discharge, the balls had not yet passed. They are presumed passed as he was to return to care for new symptoms or concerns. | WA | 8 YOM |
| 47 | 120109CNE0015 H1210085A | 201201 | AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS PLAYING WITH A 29-PIECE MAGNET BALL TOY SET IN HIS BEDROOM. HE WENT TO HIS PARENTS AND INFORMED THEM THAT HE SWALLOWED FOUR OF THE BALLS. HE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY REMOVED THE FOUR BALLS WITH A SCOPE. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. | MI | 8 YOM |
| 48 | 120110CNE0019 I1210220A | 201201 | A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL ACCIDENTALLY INGESTED TWO SMALL MAGNETIC BALLS WHILE SHE WAS TRYING TO SEPARATE THEM WITH HER TEETH. THE VICTIM, WHO DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS FROM THE INGESTION, WAS MONITORED BY A LOCAL HOSPITAL UNTIL THE MAGNETS WERE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED. THE VICTIM WAS CONSIDERED TO BE FULLY RECOVERED. | MA | 12 YOF |
| 49 | H1210180A X1210433A | 201201 | The reporting party is a pediatrician. Just a few minutes ago, he sent a child to the emergency room for swallowing magnets. The doctor found that the 13 year old swallowed the magnets. These magnets were intended to go in the mouth by design. The doctor stated the two magnets are to connect on either side of the tongue as part of a fake tongue piercing. The physician would assume the magnets are a quarter of an inch each. The patient came to his office and told him that he was having stomach aches almost immediately after swallowing the magnets. The consumer looked at the CDC advisories on magnets and referred the patient to an emergency room. The consumer sent the patient to [redacted] Hospital. The doctor has just sent the patient there and does not know what treatment is being conducted. The physician did not see any oral scratches or cuts to the mouth of the patient. The physician does not know who the retailer or the firm is who made the magnets. | 13 YOM | |
| 50 | X1210935B H1220107A | 201201 | 10 YOM was hospitalized after swallowing three ball-bearing magnets. He passed them without incident. | VA | 10 YOM |
| 51 | H1220157A 120214CNE1516 (Terminated) | 201201 | Victim swallowed earth magnet and was taken to emergency room at the hospital. | 4 YOM | |
| 52 | X1940424B X1230744B 120305HWE5001 | 201201 | 3 YOF SWALLOWED 37 SMALL BALL-SHAPED MAGNETS. AT FIRST HER PARENTS THOUGHT SHE HAD STOMACH FLU, BUT X-RAY REVEALED CIRCULAR CHAIN OF MAGNETS IN HER STOMACY. MAGNETIC BALLS SNAPPED HER INTESTINES TOGETHER, RIPPED 3 HOLES IN LOWER INTESTING AND 1 HOLE IN STOMACH. | OR | 3 YOF |
| 53 | H1230061A 120531CBB2787 | 201201 |
The consumer wanted to illustrate the events that led to her grandchild swallowing a toy and undergoing surgery. The consumer grandson some swallowed some product that was cited in release 10-251. The consumer stated that she is filing this report on behalf of her grandchild, who lives in different state. On the day of the incident, the consumer’s daughter heard that her child was very quiet and thought something may be amiss. She discovered that her child had apparently swallowed some small spherical magnets.
She did not find all of the magnets but was positive that he may have swallowed an undetermined amount of magnets. The consumer took the child to the doctor the next day. The consumer’s daughter took her child to his pediatrician. The doctor sent the child to emergency room the same day. At the medical facility, the child was x-rayed and the doctors provided the child with an enema. The enema was not successful and the child was given a laxative | 13 MOM | |
| 54 | 120723CBB1857 I1210121A | 201201 | A TWELVE YEAR-OLD FEMALE ACCIDENTLY INGESTED TWO SMALL MAGNETIC BALLS. THE VICTIM HAD BEEN PLAYING WITH THE BALLS IN HER ROOM WITH A FRIEND WHEN SHE PLACED THEM IN HER MOUTH TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STICK TO HER BRACES. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OF A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE THE STAFF TOOK SEVERAL X-RAYS OF HER ABDOMEN TO MONITOR THE PASSAGE OF THE MAGNETS THROUGH HER SYSTEM. THE VICTIM WAS RELEASED THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND PASSED THE MAGNETS IN HER STOOL LATER THAT SAME DAY. THE VICTIM WAS NOT INJURED IN THE INCIDENT AND DID NOT REQUIRE ANY FURTHER MEDICAL ATTENTION. | NY | 12 YOF |
| 55 | I1240384A 120723CBB1860 (Terminated) | 201201 | 2 yo boy swallowed [magnetic desk toy] earth magnets, landed in stomach with large portion of stomach mucosa stuck in between magnets. Was successfully removed endoscopically but led to superficial ulceration and concern for possible perforation of stomach. | 2 YOM | |
| 56 | X1940424D 140115CAA2304 X1410862A | 201201 | HIGH-POWERED MAGNETS ARE BLAMED FOR DEATH OF 19 MOF. DANGER COMES WHEN MORE THAN ONE OF THESE MAGNETS ARE SWALLOWED, OR ONE MAGNET AND ANY OTHER PIECE OF METAL. | 19 MOF | |
| 57 | I1290527A 140116CAA3291 (Terminated) | 201201 | An 8-year-old male was trying to stick two [redacted] spherical magnets on either side of his front teeth when he accidentally swallowed them. The [small magnetic balls] were purchased at [redacted]. He presented to an emergency department the following day, after a parent posted the event on [redacted] and people expressed concern. He remained asymptomatic. Initial xrays showed that the magnets were together in intestinal loops, beyond the stomach. He was referred to our hospital’s emergency department, where he received two more sets of images over the course of the day. The magnets passed before the final images were obtained, uneventfully. The cost of this event was a day of lost work for the family, the cost of two ED visits and surgical service consultation, three sets of radiographs (7 images total), and the emotional cost to the family. | WA | 8 YOM |
| 58 | I1250277A | 201202 | Patient was a 11 year old female. She had two high powered magnets that were designed to be placed on ear lobes to simulate earrings. The patient was curious to see if they could work to give the appearance of a tongue ring. She placed the magnets on her tongue and it seemed to work. However, they slipped off and she inadvertently swallowed them. She said she felt alright, so she tried it again with two more magnets. The same thing happened, leading to the swallowing of a second pair of magnets. She had abdominal pain over the next few days and then developed vomiting. She presented to our Emergency Room and X-Ray revealed the magnets, lined up on the image, in the area of the stomach. Repeat X-ray showed the magnets were not moving. Surgical intervention found one pair of magnets in the duodenum, and the other pair in the body of the stomach. The magnets had stuck together in these organs as they passed near each other in the anatomy. | MD | 11 YOF |
| 59 | I1280259A | 201202 | A 12-year-old girl ingested 3 magnets after pretending to have a tongue piercing. She presented to care 6 days later, by which time she had experienced 2.5 days of worsening abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. She presented with signs and symptoms consistent with an acute abdomen, peritonitis and compensated shock. Abdominal xrays revealed pneumoperitoneum and 3 approximately 5 mm spherical objects, likely in small bowel. On exploratory laparotomy, she was found to have diffuse peritoneal soilage with fibrinous debris, resulting in adherence of the omentum over the surface of the small bowel and cloudly, bilious material in all 4 quadrants. There were two perforation sites in the midjejunum approximately a foot apart and 3 magnets aligned within the perforation sites. The perforations were closed with 2 enterorrhaphies and the abdomen was copiously irrigated. Her hospital course was long, with 2 days of ICU care, 7 total days of NG drainage, prolonged fevers, a long course of IV antibiotics, prolonged | WA | 12 YOF |
| 60 | I1230068A 120306CNE1520 | 201202 |
My two year old grandson had emergency surgery to remove magnetic balls, “[REDACTED]” or “Magnet Balls”, from his stomach. He swallowed 10 of these balls over a period of time. These balls are not a choking hazard. The balls can be swallowed by a baby and would not get stuck in their throat because they are so small. They flow easily down their throat and stop in the intestines or stomach and will not digest. If a child swallows more than one, the balls will link together in a child’s stomach. In the case of my grandson, the chain of balls linked together with eight of the linked balls eroded through the wall with the last two still in his stomach when the surgery occurred. The doctors said he was a lucky boy – if any more time had elapse, he could have died.
There have been 11 cases reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This report is at least number 12. Please let me know what we can do to get this toy off the shelf! Respectfully, [REDACTED] | 2 YOM | |
| 61 | X1270522A | 201203 | 12-year-old, sixth-grade student from Middle School was admitted to the Hospital after swallowing eight of the magnets from magnetic toy. Surgery was performed. pediatric surgeon stated that Children should not play with magnets small enough to put in their mouth. | CA | 12 YO |
| 62 | 120321CWE2021 X1230744A | 201203 | TWO 12 YEAR OLD GIRLS SWALLOWED MAGNETS, AFTER PLAYING WITH THEM IN THEIR MOUTHS. BOTH VICTIMS WERE HOSPITALIZED AND REQUIRED SURGERY TO HAVE THE MAGNETS REMOVED. BOTH VICTIMS RECEIVED THE MAGNETS AT SCHOOL AND WERE USING THEM TO MIMIC FACE PIERCINGS ON THEIR CHEEKS AND TONGUES. THE MAGNETS CAME OFF FROM A NECKLACE THAT WAS TOTALLY COMPRISED OF SMALL PINK MAGNET BALLS. | CA | 12 YOF |
| 63 | 120723CBB3784 H1230134A | 201203 | AN 8 YEAR OLD FEMALE SWALLOWED 2 MAGNETIC SILVER BALLS WHILE MIMICKING A TONGUE PIERCING. THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND WAS GIVEN AN ENEMA TO PASS THE ITEMS. THE VICTIM SUFFERED NO INJURIES. | KS | 8 YOF |
| 64 | I1280509A | 201203 | A 3-year-old girl swallowed a rougly 2.5 cm (longest diameter) diamond-shaped magnet purchased at a museum. She was seen by her PCP and the magnet was in her stomach. Three days later it had not moved and she was referred to the ED. Endoscopic removal was considered, but the magnet moved into small bowel after [REDACTED] was administered. Over the next 3 days, it was observed passing on sequential images — 4 sets total of 1-2 images, over 4 days. On the last films, it was located in the rectum. No further follow-up information is available, but it is presumed to have passed. | WA | 3 YOF |
| 65 | I1280263A | 201204 | A 10-year-old male was rolling 3 spherical magnets on his chin when they accidentally fell in his mouth and he swallowed them. He had no symptoms. He was hospitalized for 3 days, received 5 sets of films over 3 days (2 nights). The magnets were recovered from stool in the 5th day. | 10 YOM | |
| 66 | I1240485A | 201204 |
I am a pediatric gastroenterologist and would like to report 15 unique patients who have ingested multiple [magnetic desk toy]” or rare-earth metal magnets. This report covers the period 2010-April 2012 [redacated]. All patients were cared for at this institution in our Emergency Department or Urgent Care locations. All patients had x-rays to confirm the location of these magnets. the mean age a tthe time of ingestion was 10 years
10 patients were managed conservatively without any intervention. 3 patients had magnets removed endoscopically from the stomach or small intestine. 1 patient experienced perforation of small and large bowel due to the magnets. The patient underwent surgery for resection of a portion of the small intestine. 1 patient underwent surgery for removal of magnets that were fixed in place in the large intestine. Based on my interaction with peers around the country, I feel that our experience with these magnets is not atypical | CO | Unk |
| 67 | I1240231B | 201204 | We have had two recent cases of magnet ball ingestion both in toddlers the first one [redacted] required endoscopy with the successful removal of 39 rare earth magnet form the stomach and esophagus. This patient came in to the hospital on the day of ingestion and already had significant injury with near perforation of his stomach. the second case the toddler ingested 7 magnetic balls that were already in the intestine at arrival to the hospital. The child perforated the intestine and had occlusion of the blood supply to the intestine resulting in all but 10 to 15 cm of his small bowel being removed. This child will require an intestinal transplant to survive. This product is very popular and is being sold in bookstores, pharmacies and online. Most come with consumer warnings but they are sold to any age individuals. If these balls were at least a 1/2 inch in diameter they would be a lot less likely to have any ingested especially with multiple balls being ingested and would be easier to remove if ingested. | LA | 3 YOM |
| 68 | I1240231A | 201204 | We have had two recent cases of magnet ball ingestion both in toddlers the first one required endoscopy with the successful removal of 39 rare earth magnet form the stomach and esophagus. This patient came in to the hospital on the day of ingestion and already had significant injury with near perforation of his stomach. the second case the toddler ingested 7 magnetic balls that were already in the intestine at arrival to the hospital. The child perforated the intestine and had occlusion of the blood supply to the intestine resulting in all but 10 to 15 cm of his small bowel being removed. This child will require an intestinal transplant to survive. This product is very popular and is being sold in bookstores, pharmacies and online. Most come with consumer warnings but they are sold to any age individuals. If these balls were at least a 1/2 inch in diameter they would be a lot less likely to have any ingested especially with multiple balls being ingested and would be easier to remove if ingested. | LA | UnkM |
| 69 | I1280265A | 201204 | A 10-year-old girl was faking mouth piercing and swallowed two magnets. No further hx is available. On xrays, 2 small round objects were seen either in the stomach or transverse colon. She was discharged from the emergency department and there is no follow-up, so these are presumed to have passed. | WA | 10 YOF |
| 70 | 120419CBB1618 I1240241A | 201204 | AN 11 YEAR-OLD GIRL SWALLOWED A SMALL MAGNETIC BALL WHILE SIMULATING A TONGUE PIERCING. SHE PLACED ONE OF THE MAGNETS ON TOP OF HER TONGUE AND ANOTHER MAGNET BELOW HER TONGUE TO SIMULATE THE PIERCING. ONE OF THE MAGNETS BECAME DISLODGED AND WAS SWALLOWED. SHE WAS NOT INJURED, BUT HER MOTHER TOOK HER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR X-RAYS. THE MAGNET PASSED THROUGH HER BODY NATURALLY. | FL | 11 YOF |
| 71 | 120723CBB1856 I1250463A | 201204 | A NINE YEAR OLD MALE REQUIRED SURGERY TO REMOVE 23 RARE EARTH MAGNETS THAT WERE INGESTED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS PRIOR. THE MAGNETS HAD ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER AND HAD FORMED A RING IN THE CHILD’S INTESTINE. THE RING OF MAGNETS CAUSED A BLOCKAGE OF THE INTESTINE. THE CHILD FULLY RECOVERED AFTER THE SURGERY. | NY | 9 YOM |
| 72 | I1250590A 120723CBB3781 (Terminated) | 201204 | A9 and 1/2 year old female swallowed 2 magnet balls while she was at school. The school teachers son had brought some magnet balls into school an gave them to other children in the class. The children played with these some of them simulating body and tongue jewelry. This patient swallowed 2 magnets and told her Mom about the incident when she came home. The mom called her physician who told her to come to the emergency room the next day. At our emergency room an x-ray revealed that the magnets were already in her right lower quadrant. She was admitted for observation the magnet failed to progress on with golytely over 24 hours. She had a colonoscopy done with successful removal of the magnet which had pinched together on a haustral fold. Patient tolerated progression of feeds well an was sent home the next day. | LA | 9 YOF |
| 73 | I1250021A 131120CCC3150 (Terminated) | 201204 | a 3yM was at home and found to be chewing on the ends of small plastic toy darts with disc-shaped neodynium magnets at the end of them (redacted). The child was found to have ingested two of the magnets from the ends of the darts. He was in no apparent distress. His parents brought him to the nearest emergency room where radiograph confirmed at least two magnets linked in the mid-abdomen, either in stomach or duodenum. He was brought 2 hours to our tertiary care center where repeat radiograph confirmed no movement of the ingested magnets. That night endoscopy was performed to remove the magnets. One magnet was noted in the stomach antrum, and despite 2 1/2 hours, it could not be withdrawn. The patient was monitored overnight and, the next morning, a second endoscopic attempt was undertaken. This time, the endoscope could be driven further into the duodenum | LA | 3 YOM |
| 74 | X1320259A | 201205 | A girl who swallowed 15 magnetic balls became “completely immobilized” and had to have them surgically removed, The product had recalled as unsafe two years before the child daughter swallowed them. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal. After ingesting the balls the child suffered extreme stomach pains that caused her to become completely immobilized and unable to participate in family and school activities. A gastroenterologist couldn’t figure it out, so they ordered a colonoscopy, which found “something metallic and magnetic blocking her upper GI tract.” | SC | UnkF |
| 75 | 120723CBB1854 I1250133A | 201205 | A 9 YEAR OLD MALE ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOWED TWO SMALL MAGNETS WHEN HE WAS AT SCHOOL. THE MAGNETS WERE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL BY A FRIEND OF THE VICTIM. THE VICTIM DID NOT REPORT THE INGESTION TO HIS PARENTS UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. ONCE THE INGESTION WAS DISCOVERED, THE VICTIM WAS GIVEN A LAXITIVE AND HOSPITALIZED. THE MAGNETS PASSED NATURALLY, WITHOUT INJURY, SEVERAL DAYS LATER. | MD | 9 YOM |
| 76 | I1250123A 120723CBB1855 (Terminated) | 201205 | 10 year old male bought small ball magnets to be used as a tongue ring. He swallowed the magnets which ended up in his intestine. If the had separated and then tried to reconnect from different area of the intestine they would have perforated through his intestinal wall. I had to endoscopically remove them from his intestine in order for him to avoid surgery or perforation. | 10 YOM | |
| 77 | 120723CBB1858 I1250252A | 201205 | A TWO AND HALF YEAR OLD FEMALE WAS PLAYING WITH EARTH MAGNETS THAT SHE PULLED OFF THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR. SHE PUT THEM IN HER MOUTH AND SWALLOWED THEM. HER GRANDMOTHER TRIED TO REMOVE THEM BUT THEY WERE LODGED IN THE BACK OF THE VICTIM’S THROAT. SHE DROVE HER TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. X-RAYS OF THE LARYNX AND INTESTINES LOCATED TWENTY-THREE MAGNETS PRESENT. THE VICTIM PASSED THEM NATURALLY AND HAS SUCCESSFULLY RECOVERED. THE MAGNETS BELONGED TO THE GRANDMOTHER’S ROOMMATE AND WERE USED TO DIPLAY PICTURES ON THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR. | VA | 2 YOF |
| 78 | 120723CBB3782 I1250139A | 201205 | A 2 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL WITH BILIOUS VOMITING. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THE GIRL HAD A BOWL OBSTRUCTION IN HER SMALL INTESTINE. THE CAUSE OF THE OBSTRUCTION WAS INGESTION OF 10 ROCK MAGNETS. THE GIRL UNDERWENT SURGERY TO HAVE THE OBSTRUCTION REMOVED. LIMITED CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM’S MOTHER REVEALED THE GIRL HAD INGESTED THE MAGNETS AT HER GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE. | WA | 2 YOF |
| 79 | I1250577A 120723CBB3783 (Terminated) | 201205 | 11 year old female ingested 2 small magnet balls. Endoscopy attempted to remove magnets within 7 hours of ingestion but unsuccessful. Patient was admitted to the hospital. 36 hours later the magnets had failed to progress therefore she underwent a colonoscopy where the magnets were successfully removed. | LA | 11 YOF |
| 80 | 140116CCC1289 H1270238A | 201205 | A NINE YEAR GIRL SWALLOWED FOUR SMALL SPHERICAL-SHAPED HIGH POWERED MAGNETS WHILE SHE WAS AT SCHOOL IN HER CLASSROOM. THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE UNDERWENT AN UNSUCCESSFUL ENDOSCOPY AND HAD THREE X-RAYS OVER A SERIES OF DAYS BEFORE THE MAGNETS ULTIMATELY PASSED ON THEIR OWN FIVE TO TWELVE DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CHILD HAS NO PERMANENT INJURIES OR DISABILITY AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. | MD | 9 YOF |
| 81 | I1280345A | 201206 | I am a pediatric emergency medicine doctor and see the consequences of magnet ingestion regularly. Recently, I cared for a 16 year old girl accidentally swallow two [magnetic balls]. Though an x-ray showed them to be in the stomach and an urgent attempt was made to remove them with a tube (endoscopy), they passed into the intestines and became lodged there. She required an operation to remove them but has made a full recovery. I then cared for a 12 year old girl, who accidentally swallowed a pair of the same product. She was also promptly taken to endoscopy and put under general anesthesia for removal. These products are dangerous. Small children are at particular risk for bowel perforation. They should be removed from shelves in the United States. | NH | 16 YOF |
| 82 | I13A0230A | 201206 | In 2012, a 4-year-old developmentally typical female put two magnetic balls in her mouth at the same time. She attempted to swallow these, with subsequent throat pain. She notified her mother, who offered her a banana and some water, without resolution of her pain. She was taken to a local Emergency Department, where she appeared uncomfortable, but without drooling, stridor, wheezing, respiratory distress or cyanosis. Neck radiographs revealed two spherical, radiopaque foreign bodies in the region of the vallecula . She was transferred to our institution, where she was evaluated by our ED and Otolaryngology providers. Direct laryngoscopy was performed, 13 hours after the ingestion. She was found to have 2 two magnets attracting across lingual and glottic surfaces of the base of the epiglottis on the right side. After removal using [redacted] forceps, there was some evidence of mucosal injury of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic fold at the site of each magnet. | WA | 4 YOF |
| 83 | I1260276A 120723CBB1859 (Terminated) | 201206 | 11yo girl who presented to the emergency department after having swallowed 5 [magnetic desk toys] that she was playing with in her mouth. She obtained these [magnetic desk toys] as a gift from her mother after she saw them in her school classroom, and having several friends who purchased these. She was playing with them on her mouth, then was jostled by a little brother and swallowed them. The [magnetic desk toys] were found in her stomach on XR. We needed to call in an emergency Anesthesia team overnight before they descended beyond her stomach and into her small intestine, where they would no longer be retrievable by our upper endoscope. (Approximately 2-3 months ago we had a patient who suffered a tear in their small intestine and required emergency surgery after the same incident, where the balls progressed beyond out of the stomach.) Of note, this girl was completely “asymptomatic” (feeling well), and reluctantly told her mother after approximately 1hr. | MA | 11 YOF |
| 84 | I1270342A | 201207 | A three year old child swallowed 18 small (3-4cm) bead like magnets. This required and emergency endoscopy to remove the magnets. Once out they were found to be very strong. | 3 YOM | |
| 85 | I1270520A | 201207 | Two children swallowed high-powered, rare earth magnets [redacated]. The older sibling, approximately 7 years old, presented to an Emergency Room with abdominal pain and vomiting. An abdominal x-ray confirmed that several (6-7) magnets were in the small intestine. The child was brought to the OR shortly thereafter where 6 cm of small intestine was resected. The magnets had formed a fistula between 2 loops of adjacent bowel. The child’s younger sibling also admitted to swallowing magnets, though he was asymptomatic and an x-ray was normal. | NY | 7 YOM 4 YOM |
| 86 | I1280261A | 201207 | A 3-year-old girl was playing with magnet ‘beads’. The next day she began vomiting, and the day after that she complained of abdominal pain. Xrays revealed a loop of 12 spherical objects in the right lower quadrant. She was admitted for enemas and serial imaging. When the objects didn’t move by the next day, she was taken to the OR for laparotomy and enterotomy for retrieval. The 12 magnets were in a loop 15 cm from the ileocecal valve, and the configuration had annealed on itself causing a dimpling of the mesenteric border of the ileum between 2 magnets. The patient was hospitalized 3 days post-operatively. | WA | 3 YOF |
| 87 | 120713CAA3752 I1270213A | 201207 | A 16-YEAR-OLD FEMALE ACCIDENTLY SWALLOWED THREE NEODYNIUM MAGNETS AFTER HER TODDLER SIBLING PUT THEM IN THE VICTIM’S WATER BOTTLE. WHEN SHE GOT AN UPSET STOMACH AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL A CT SCAN REVEALED THE THREE MAGNETS LODGED BETWEEN THE STOMACH AND SMALL INTESTINES. | TX | 16 YOF |
| 88 | 120809CAA1896 I1280071A | 201207 | THE 18MOM VICTIM INGESTED EIGHTEEN SMALL SPHERICAL MAGNETS. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE MAGANETS WERE REMOVED WITHOUT SURGERY. THE VICTIM SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. | MD | 18 MOM |
| 89 | H1280190A 140116CAA3289 (Terminated) | 201207 | The consumer stated that her daughter put the [small magnetic balls] in her mouth. The consumer stated that her daughter was throwing up on the same the day and she didn’t know why. She continued to throw up so she took her to her family doctor. The consumer stated that the doctor diagnosed it as the flu and sent her home. The consumer stated that her daughter was given [redacted]. The consumer stated that her daughter continued to throw up so she took her to [redacted] Medical Center. She was admitted and given fluids. The consumer staed that her daugher’s stomach was swollen so the doctor did a stomach x-ray and discovered that she had swallowed the [small magnetic balls]. The consumer stated that her daughter had emergency surgery and it was discovered that the balls had embedded themselves in her intestines and it cause holes which caused bile to leak into her body. The doctors had to remove part of her intestines. | KS | 6 YOF |
| 90 | I1270201A | 201207 | My 6 year old son had gotten a toy from [redacted]. It is the size of a pill & says, [redacted] on the packaging. He took this item apart & there were two magnets stuck together and two batteries. He proceeded to use his mouth to try & pry the two magnets apart only to swallow them. I rushed him to the ER thinking it was the batteries at first & they did an X-Ray and thankfully it was in his stomach already. Had it been in his esophagus he could have choked to death or had to be rushed into emergency surgery to remove. We were able to watch him & repeat the x-ray a few days later to see where the items were in his system. Upon getting another one of these toys & taking it apart I saw that he had in fact swallowed the magnets not batteries & called the pediatrician. They said he had to have them surgically removed if still in his stomach or intestines. Thankfully he had passed them & we avoided surgery. This was extremely scary & could have been deadly. | SC | 6 YOM |
| 91 | I1290011A | 201208 | A 9-year-old girl swallowed a [redacted] magnet. According to the child, who was alone at the time, the magnet fell off her magnet wall board and into her mouth, and then she accidentally swallowed it. She had no symptoms. She was brought to the emergency department to be sure she was safe and there was only one ingested. Xrays were done which detected one 5 mm spherical object overlying her stomach. She was discharged with follow-up with her pediatrician. This event thus required an ED visit, xrays, and another physician visit, possibly with more xrays. Her parents were also advised to search her stools for the magnet. | WA | 9 YOF |
| 92 | I1280581A | 201208 | 13 year-old male accidently swallowed 2 [small magnet balls] that had been given to him by a friend. Patient presented to outside emergency room where abdominal x-ray confirmed presence of magnets in the stomach. Transferred to Childrens emergency room, repeat imaging before endoscopy re-confirmed presence of magnets in the stomach. Patient underwent upper endoscopy by GI Fellow and Attending with successful removal of [small magnet balls] from the stomach. | WA | 13 YOM |
| 93 | I12A0027A | 201208 | A 4 year old Autistic male underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove two magnet foreign bodies from his jejunem and colon. The patient’s mother stated that the child swallowed a metal marble while playing a game with the family. The child has a history of placing things in his mouth and approximately one month ago the mother found the child placing small magnetic block toys in his mouth. At that time the mother took the toys away without concern that the child had swallowed any of the objects. Since swallowing the marble the child had complained of some mild abdominal pain and had vomited a few times. The child vomited mucus with black streaks, and had a small amount of emesis of gastric contents on Tuesday. The mother brough the child to the emergency room and the magnets were found on abdominal xray. He underwent surgery the next day. He was discharged after a 4 day hospital stay. | NC | 4 YOM |
| 94 | I12A0004A | 201209 | I had to perform emergency endoscopy on a 2 yr old who swallowed 7 [small magnetic balls] last night. | WA | 2 YOM |
| 95 | X12B1084B | 201210 | A boy ingested 19 magnets. He required a major surgery with re-section of pieces of bowel and closure of other pieces of bowel. | HI | UnkM |
| 96 | I12A0103A | 201210 | 13 year old female presented to the emergency room yesterday evening following a foreign body ingestion. She had been playing with 2 [magnet sets] given to her by a friend and displayed the circular magnets on her lower lip as a piercing. She attempted to remove the circular magnets off her lower lip and accidentally ingested them. She had some difficulty swallowing following the incident and was unable to expel contents by vomiting. She did not realize the [magnet sets] were magnetic and potentially dangerous when ingested until she heard from a friend’s mother the need for urgent surgery after ingestion by her daughter. She was evaluated with abdominal xrays in the emergency room yesterday night. Her abdominal xrays showed the two circular magnets stuck together and located in her jejunum. She was discharged home with any interventions overnight given location the circular magnets and the fact that she was asymptomatic.She had a repeat xray and an evaluation by Pediatric GI office this morning. | OH | 13 YOF |
| 97 | I12A0115A | 201210 | 9 year old boy swallowed three [magnet sets]. Passed them approx. 5 days later. | OR | 9 YOM |
| 98 | I12B0056A | 201211 | Pt swallowed two [small magnetic balls] accidently while using them to pretend he had a tongue ring. | 12 YOM | |
| 99 | I12C0067A | 201211 | A 2 year old boy presented with vomiting for two days. An x-ray revealed the presence of several ball-like items that had formed what seemed to be a bracelet. When taken to [redacted], the parents remembered that they were missing several high powered magnets. The child was taken to the Operating Room and 22 high powered magnets were removed from the intestine and 6 intestinal perforations were noted and repaired. | OH | 2 YOM |
| 100 | I13A0218A | 201211 | An 8-year-old girl was playing with small, spherical magnets, the kind that come in magnet sets. She was trying to stick them around her teeth. She accidentally swallowed 5 of them. She was taken to an outside hospital where xrays showed [redacted] magnets in a line in her stomach. she was referred to our urban center. She was admitted for observation. she recieved a total of 4 xrays series (6 xray images) before it was clear the balls were passing through her bowels without incident. She was discharged home and did not return to care, and it is presumed the balls passed without injury. The harm to this patient was costs of ED visits and admission, as well as xray exposure. | WA | 8 YOF |
| 101 | H12C0104A 121219HCC2257 (Terminated) | 201211 | The consumer stated that she had thrown the original cub away because of the danger. The consumer stated that her 9 year son found some of the magnets laying around the house or in the car. The consumer stated that he took them to school. The consumer stated that after he came home from school he complained of stomach pains. The consumer stated that she took him to emergency room. The consumer stated that since a virus was going around, they thought it was a stomach virus because he was vomiting. The consumer stated that her son was given some [REDACTED] and released. The consumer was advised to follow up with her pediatrician. The consumer stated that her son was taken to the pediatrician’s office and was seen by an associate (name unknown). The associate advised them to go back to [redacted] because she suspected appendicitis. The consumer stated that they went back to [redacted]. | TN | 9 YOM |
| 102 | I12C0007A | 201212 | Removed 15 neodymium magnets from the stomach of a 2 year old patient who ingested them. Per parental report, they were [redacted] purchased by their teenage son over a year ago and out of their package. Toddler ingested ring of these magnets, came to [redacted] emergency room, where she was evaluated by me. We performed emergent endoscopy under anesthesia and removed the magnets from the stomach. Fortunately no perforation. | MA | 2 YOF |
| 103 | I13A0219A | 201212 | The patient was mimicking a lip piercing with 2 [redacted] magnets given to her by a friend when she moved her lip to the side and they snapped together and she accidentally swallowed them. Drank water immediately afterward, tried to vomit them up but couldn’t. No abdominal pain or nausea. She recieved imaging which showed two [redacted] magnets in her lower abdomen. She was discharged with a plan for repeat images the following day at her regular doctor’s office. She did not return to our hospital and we presume the magnets passed. The harm to this patient was multiple health care visits and imaging. | WA | 9 YOF |
| 104 | H1310142A | 201301 |
The doctor stated that her 2 years old patient swallow 62 rare earth magnets and suffered intestinal perforation. The doctor stated it’s believed that the incident happened while the child was playing with the magnets without supervision.
The doctor stated that the 62 magnets were removed from his intestines and stomach. The child was currently admitted at the intensive care unit and will be in the hospital for approximately 5-7 days. The doctor stated that soon after his release from the hospital the child would have to follow up with the pediatric surgeon as well as with his regular pediatrician. | CA | 2 YOM |
| 105 | X1340450A 130416CNE0001 (Terminated) I1340189A | 201301 | 9 YOM wound up in emergency room with sharp stomach cramps & vomiting. He’d accidentally swallowed two of magnets from magnet desk toy, leaving his small & large intestines bound together. He was released from hospital few days after surgery. | IL | 9 YOM |
| 106 | I13A0229A | 201303 | A 5 year old boy found a bunch of 0.5 cm silver magnet balls on the street. He was playing with them and decided to eat some. He ate 4, after which he complained of throat pain and pain with swallowing. He went to a local emergency department where he was found to have the 4 balls in a ring in his upper esophagus. He was transferred to our facility, where he was evaluated in our ED and had consultation by the Pediatric Otolaryngology specialists. His father brought the remaining balls with him, and they looked like [REDACTED], [REDACTED] or [REDACTED] magnets. They took him to the operating room for endoscopic foreign body removal. On removal, it appeared that two balls had pinched esophageal mucosa between them, which is likely what trapped the balls in the esophagus. On removal, there was some mucosal irritation, but no complete erosion. The patient was discharged home from the recovery room. He did not return to our facility and is presumed to have recovered well. | WA | 5 YOM |
| 107 | I1330172A 131120CCC3151 (Terminated) | 201303 | A female consumer thinks that her daughter may have swallowed a small part when the magnetic drawing board toy pen’s tip wore down exposing the magnet. She called her doctor about her concern. She wants to know how the pen is made. | IL | UnkF |
| 108 | I1350436A | 201305 | Ingestion of 4 [redacted] magnets. Patient presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and distension, decreased oral intake and vomiting. The magnets were removed from the colon endoscopically. | 4 YOF | |
| 109 | I1390204A | 201308 | 9 year old girl was playing with an antique/toy lamp that used [redacted] magnets as the string to pull the light on, took some of the magnets and placed in her mouth, accidentally swallowed about 5-7 of them. Patient underwent multiple exposures to radiation via XRays, anesthesia, and an endoscopy in an attempt to retrieve them. Magnets were in small intestine by the time endoscopy was performed, required more XRays to follow magnets around the bowel. Fortunate for the child, they passed without incident. | 9 YOF | |
| 110 | 140515CAA1625 | 201308 | A 7 YEAR OLD BOY SWALLOWED 2 RARE EARTH MAGNETS WHILE HE WAS LYING ON HIS BACK, ON A COUCH AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE CHILD WAS STUDYING HIS ALPHABETS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, AND WAS HOLDING A STRAND OF ABOUT TWELVE OF THE MAGNETS ABOVE HIS FACE. TWO OF THE MAGNETS UNEXPECTEDLY SEPARATED FROM THE STRAND, AND FELL INTO THE CHILD’S MOUTH. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED SO QUICKLY THAT THE CHILD WAS NOT ABLE TO AVOID SWALLOWING THE MAGNETS. THE CHILD’S PARENTS IMMEDIATELY TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT. NINE DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, DOCTORS MANUALLY REMOVED THE 2 MAGNETS DURING A COLONOSCOPY PROCEDURE. THE MAGNETS NEVER SEPARATED WHILE INSIDE OF THE CHILD’S BODY, AND HE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. | IN | 7 YOM |
| 111 | I1390238A | 201309 | 2 year with brought in to the hospital after ingestion of [small magnet balls]. Four were attached together as a string against the gastric mucosa. Successfully endoscopic retrieved. Upon removal of the magnets the mucosal site was ulcerated and edematous. | NC | 2 YOF |
| 112 | H1390142A | 201309 |
[redacted] the caller who is Pediatric Gastroentrologist with [REDACTED] was called into the emergency room to examine a 9yr old Caucasian girl who had ingested three small round magnets approximately one centimeter in diameter.
The child was given xrays then observed for the passing of the magnets while being given laxatives to encourage movement. Caller observed and tested child to track movement of magnets through her digestive system and when she was sure that the magnets were in the right track and close enough to dispel, she then released the child to her mother. The 9yr old childs mother took her home where the magnets were dispelled and no longer a danger to the childs system. The manufacturer has not been contacted because the identity of the manufacturer is unknown. | NJ | 9 YOF |
| 113 | I13B0121A | 201310 | 4 year old female who presented to the ED with abdominal pain and vomiting of unclear cause. Parents thought she was constipated at home so they gave her [redacted] but her symptoms persisted. An abdominal radiograph was obtained in the ED and showed 3 magnets (small, round earth magnets). An upper endoscopy was performed but only 2 magnets were noted in the stomach with the third presumed to be in the small bowel. Given tha two magnets were embedded into the stomach wall and there was concern for perforation with or without necrosis, surgery was consulted and removed the magnets in the OR. The patient is recovering well and will soon be discharged. | 4 YOF | |
| 114 | 131205CNE0001 X13C0208A X13C0376A | 201311 | A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL ACCIDENTLY SWALLOWED TWO ROUND 5MM SUPER MAGNETS WHILE HOLDING THEM IN HER MOUTH WHEN SHE WENT TO THE BATHROOM. THE ORIGINAL ER DOCTOR TOLD THE MOTHER THE MAGNETS WOULD PASS BUT THE MOTHER TOOK HER DAUGHTER TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS ADMITTED AND EVENTUALLY THE MAGNETS WERE REMOVED BY SURGERY. SHE APPEARS TO BE HEALING WELL. | FL | 14 YOF |
| 115 | 140127CAA3308 I13B0322A | 201311 | A 3 YEAR OLD BOY SWALLOWED (3) 5MM SPHERICAL RARE EARTH MAGNETS. THE VICTIM BEGAN HAVING SEVERE STOMACH PAIN WITHIN 24 HOURS OF INGESTION, HOWEVER THE VICTIM’S PARENTS ATTRIBUTED THE PAIN TO A STOMACH VIRUS. THE VICTIM’S SYMPTOMS DID NOT IMPROVE AND HE WAS ADMITTED TO A CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING ADMITTED, THE VICTIM UNDERWENT SURGERY TO HAVE THE THREE MAGNETS REMOVED. DURING THE SURGERY IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE MAGNETS HAD PUNCTURED THE VICTIM’S STOMACH AND LOWER INTESTINE. THE VICTIM HAD FOLLOW UP SURGERY TO REMOVE EXCESSIVE SCARRING IN HIS LOWER INTESTINE. OTHER THAN VISIBLE SURGICAL SCARS, THE VICTIM HAS MADE A FULL RECOVERY. | WA | 3 YOM |
| 116 | X1440001A X1431432A | 201403 | 15 MOF was injured after she swallowed toy magnets in a building set. She was taken to a hospital. She was found to have four holes in her intestine, three in her small intestine, and one in the lower part of her colon, as well as contamination. | FL | 15 MOF |
| 117 | I1440063A 140516CAA3600 (Terminated) | 201403 | An 11-year old male was playing with [small magnetic balls]. They were in his hand when he coughed, and instinctively raised his hand to cover his mouth. five [small magnetic balls] flew in his mouth and he accidentally swallowed them. On arrival to the emergency department, xrays located them in his stomach. He was taken emergently for endoscopy under sedation, and they were successfully removed. The cost to the patient was radiation, risks of sedation and the procedure, as well as financial costs related to the ED visit and potentially lost parental work. | 11 YOM | |
| 118 | I1440064A 140516CAA3601 (Terminated) | 201403 | A 14 year old girl was at school. She and a friend were tossing [REDACTED] crackers into each others’ mouths. A girl at school had brought a [REDACTED]-type magnet set to school (brand unknown) and shared the spherical magnets with numerous children. An unknown student threw two of these magnets into the patient’s mouth and she accidentally swallowed them. Xrays in the emergency department showed them to be past her stomach. She had no symptoms. She was admitted to the hospital for three days for monitoring and a bowel regimen, to ensure they passed. She received 6 xrays series during her hospitalization (11 images total, more radiation than an abdominal CT scan), and likely more at her doctor’s office after discharge. | 14 YOF | |
| 119 | I1480501A | 201408 | Patient was a 2 yo male who ingested 3 metal magnet ball barings on Thursday of last week. Monday told [redacted] about ingestion. Was asymptomatic other than a slight cough. Mother was contacted and advised to come in for Xray and evaluation. 3 metal opacities at lower EG junction. EGD performed emergently. Removal of 1 magnet. Others were not visualized. Upon repeat Xray in OR showed 2 metal opacities still at GE junction, they had eroded into the mucosal wall. He required abdomina lsurgery for resection and repair. Is now admitted to our ICU | PA | 2 YOM |
| 120 | I1480514A | 201408 | Child swallowed 3 magnet balls. He was brought to the hospital, and required surgery to remove the magnet balls | PA | 2 YOM |
| 121 | X14A0090A | 201409 | 7 YOM swallowed some magnetic balls from a magnetic building set. He was taken to the hospital where they found that he had swallowed four balls. The balls were all in one clean clump and would likely pass without incident. | 7 YOM | |
| 122 | 141006CAA2002 X14A0002A | 201409 | A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS PLAYING WITH MAGNETS AND USED THEM TO IMITATE A TONGUE PIERCING. APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LATER, SHE SWALLOWED BOTH MAGNETS. THE GIRL REPEATED THE IMITATION TONGUE PIERCING THE NEXT DAY, AND SWALLOWED ONE MAGNET. SHE STARTED EXPERIENCING STOMACH PAINS, BUT THE FAMILY BELIEVED IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH MENSTRUAL CRAMPING. THEY GAVE HER OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION UNTIL THE GIRL’S AUNT FOUND INFORMATION REGARDING THE DANGERS OF SWALLOWING MAGNETS AND NOTIFIED THE FAMILY. THE GIRL UNDERWENT SURGERY APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS AFTER THE FIRST MAGNETS WERE SWALLOWED. SHE HAD SIX INCHES OF HER SMALL INTESTINES REMOVED AND A HOLE IN HER LARGE INTESTINES PATCHED. | AL | 12 YOF |
| 123 | 141203CCC1163 I14A0523A | 201410 | A 6 YEAR-OLD MALE COMPLAINED OF A STOMACH ACHE, BEGAN VOMITING AND WAS BROUGHT TO A LOCAL ER WHERE AN X-RAY OF HIS ABDOMEN REVEALED TWO FOREIGN BODIES IN HIS LOWER BOWEL. AFTER QUESTIONING BY HOSPITAL STAFF, THE 6 YEAR-OLD ADMITTED TO HAVING SWALLOWED TWO RARE-EARTH MAGNETS, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE DAYS, WHILE PERFORMING A “MAGIC TRICK” WITH THE MAGNETS. THE VICTIM HAD LIBERATED THE MAGNETS FROM SEVERAL MAGNETIC BUILDING PIECES FROM THREE DIFFERENT COMPATIBLE BUILDING SETS BY USING HIS TEETH TO PRY APART THE PLASTIC IN WHICH THE MAGNETS WERE ENCAPSULATED. THE VICTIM SUFFERED 4 HOLES IN HIS BOWEL AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE UNDERWENT TWO SURGERIES OVER THE COURSE OF SEVEN DAYS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. | NY | 6 YOM |
| 124 | X14C0409A | 201412 | A 10 year old boy was hospitalized for 2 weeks when he swallowed 16 tiny magnets from a children’s toy and developed serious injuries that required extensive surgery. He was suffering with stomachache and doctors found the pain was caused by pieces of a [redacted] puzzle that he had ingested. The ball-shaped magnets were attracted to each other through the walls of his bowels, & they had pulled different parts of his intestines together, causing multiple holes in the intestinal walls & tissue death in several regions. | 10 YOM | |
| 125 | I1540449A | 201504 | An 18 month old female ingested 9 high powered magnet balls. They were successfully removed from the stomach by emergent endoscopy without incidence, but posed a potential high risk for perforation had they not been retrieved. | WA | 18 MOF |
| 126 | H1540133A | 201504 | The consumer’s child was playing with the set of magnets. A few minutes later, the child put the magnets in his mouth and accidentally swallowed three of them. The consumer’s child informed the consumer that he had swallowed some magnets. The consumer immediately took her child to [redacted] ER. Her son had a one-hour-and-fifteen-minute gastroendoscopic surgery in order to remove the three magnets he had swallowed. The surgery was a success and the consumer’s child is feeling well now. The consumer believes this product poses a safety hazard. The consumer is aware that these products have been recalled. The consumer has no other incidents or injuries to report. The consumer plans on contacting the manufacturer. | FL | 10 YOM |
| 127 | I1560033A | 201505 | 5 year old male previously healthy ingested two neodynium magnets after his sister brought them home from school. He told his parents around 3pm that he swallowed the magnets. They brought him to the ER where an abdominal xray revealed two neodynium magnets in the left upper quadrant. The radiologist reported that they are in the stomach, so he was brought to the hospital where he had an upper endoscopy at 8pm and the magnets were unable to be removed. He was monitored overnight and repeat xray showed that they moved together to the right lower quadrant and he was sent home with orders to get an xray in 5 days to confirm they passed. | 5 YOM | |
| 128 | X1610192A 160108CFE0002 (Terminated) X1610288A | 201512 | A 2 YOF plucked nine pellet-sized silver magnets off of her fridge and ate them. She landed in intensive care during the week of Christmas, “fighting to live.” She had a 4 hour surgery. She was transferred out of the ICU after more than two weeks in the hospital. Child had clutched stomach in pain. | TX | 2 YOF |
| 129 | I1610341A 160122CCC2274 | 201601 | 5 yo girl was having vomiting and decreased activity for 10 days. Seen in an urgent care facility and found to have a foreign body in the GI tract so referred to me for endoscopy. Films repeated here and foreign body was found to be in the small bowel with concern about it being in multiple loops with some accompanying small bowel inflammation. Patient was taken to the OR and the foreign body was removed by open laparatomy. At least 10 spherical very strong magnets (consistent with or similar to [REDACTED]) were removed from the small bowel. | 5 YOF | |
| 130 | 160311CFE0001 I1630127A | 201603 | AT A LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A 10-YEAR-OLD FEMALE VICTIM PUT TWO MAGNET BALLS ON HER TONGUE AS A FAKE PIERCING AND SWALLOWED THEM. THE VICTIM RECEIVED THE MAGNETS FROM A CLASSMATE. THE VICTIM PUT THE MAGNETS ON HER TONGUE TRYING TO MIMIC HER MOM, WHO HAS A REAL TONGUE PIERCING. THE VICTIM WAS SEEN BY THE SCHOOL NURSE AND TAKEN TO A LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOM BY HER PARENT AS RECOMMENDED BY POISON CONTROL. THE VICTIM WAS ADMITTED INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR AN ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURE TO REMOVE THE TWO MAGNETS FROM HER STOMACH AREA. THE TREATMENT WAS SUCCESSFUL AND THE VICTIM RETURNED HOME WITH NO ADDITIONAL INJURIES. | TX | 10 YOF |
| 131 | 160329HFE0001 X1631280A | 201603 | A 10 YOM INGESTED 8 MAGNETS SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING ABDOMINAL PAINS. UPON COMPLAINING OF THE PAINS THE VICTIM WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL WHERE HE UNDERWENT SURGERY WHERE ALL 8 MAGNETS WERE REMOVED. THE VICTIM WAS POST OPERATIONAL TREATED AND RELEASED IN STABLE CONDITION. EACH MAGNET WAS APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A US NICKEL. | OK | 10 YOM |
| 132 | I1710021A | 201604 | I was called to removed 14 magnets from a two year old. She had swallowed them at home after playing with her brothers magnet set. Two were in her oralpharyngeal cavity (valeculla) and 12 where in her proximal duodenum which I removed endoscopically. She did not suffer any GI tract injury as we were able to remove the magnets promptly. | 2 YOF | |
| 133 | I16A0074A 161024CCC2067 | 201608 | pre-teen girl put 2 small rare-earth magnets on either side of her tongue like a tongue ring, and accidentally swallowed them. seen at an adult outside ED, transferred to children’s ED and GI notified. magnets had moved into proximal small bowel and we unable to be reached by endoscopy for removal. patient was admitted, given laxatives, serial xrays until passed and discharged home. | OH | 9 YOF |
| 134 | I16B0633A | 201611 | Patient consumed 5 [redacted] magnets. He required surgery to remove the magnets from his stomach. | 12 YOM | |
| 135 | 170117CCC2330 I1710137A | 201701 | A TWO YEAR-OLD MALE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER HE WAS OBSERVED SWALLOWING SEVERAL SPHERICAL MAGNETS, APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MILLIMETERS IN DIAMETER. AFTER AN ABDOMINAL X-RAY IT WAS REVEALED THAT FOREIGN OBJECTS WERE PRESENT. AN EXPLORATORY SURGERY LATER DETERMINED THAT 13 SPHERICAL MAGNETS HAD BEEN INGESTED BY THE VICTIM. THE MAGNETS WERE REMOVED AND THE VICTIM WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL. | OH | 2 YOM |
| 136 | 170117CCC3350 I1710280A | 201701 | A THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE WAS FOUND PLAYING ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR IN HER HOME WITH A BALL OF HIGH-POWERED NEODYMIUM MAGNETS IN HER HAND. THE CHILD TOLD HER FATHER THAT SHE DID NOT SWALLOW ANY OF THE MAGNETS. DAYS FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, THE VICTIM BECAME SICK WITH A FEVER AND VOMITING. THE VICTIM WAS MISDIAGNOSED WITH A STOMACH VIRUS. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE PARENTS REQUESTED X-RAYS WHICH REVEALED A METAL FOREIGN OBJECT IN THE INTESTINE. THREE MAGNETS WERE REMOVED FROM THE VICTIM’S SMALL INTESTINE, AS WELL AS A SMALL DAMAGED PORTION OF THE SMALL INTESTINE. THE FATHER OF THE VICTIM STATED THE VICTIM HAS SINCE MADE A FULL RECOVERY. | CO | 3 YOF |
| 137 | 170308CCC1590 | 201701 | AN 8 YEAR OLD MALE INGESTED TWO MAGNETICS BALLS FROM A BUILDING SET. SURGERY WAS NEEDED TO REMOVE THE PRODUCT. HE HAS RECOVERED FROM HIS INJURIES.. | PA | 8 YOM |
| 138 | X1791225A 180607CBB1763 (Terminated) | 201701 | 11 YOM was injured after swallowing a magnet ball. He was looking at it and his mouth was slightly open and it just popped off,” his mother said. It popped off right down his throat. | NC | 11 YOM |
| 139 | X17C0103A | 201704 | 5 year old boy swallowed a [magnet set] magnet from a toy. Mother called [redacted], where pharmacist reassured that a single magnet is harmless. However, Mother was certain he’d swallowed one but not sure if he’d swallowed another earlier, or any other metal objects. Child was sent to Urgent Care for x-rays which demonstrated a single metallic object in the stomach. Child discharged home, never had any symptoms. As a result of the ingestion, child did receive radiation; healthcare resources were consumed. | OH | 5 YOM |
| 140 | I1760120A | 201705 | I am a pediatric gastroenterologist. I recently took care of a 14 year old boy who accidentally swallowed [small magnet balls] while pretending it was a tongue ring. He was admitted to the hospital for monitoring and had multiple Xrays. When the magnets were no longer moving on their own, he had a colonoscopy to remove them and luckily did not have any damage to his intestine. | 14 YOM | |
| 141 | I1760362A | 201706 | Received call from [redacted] that there was an 18 month old who swallowed a toy with magnets within. The product is [redacted] and the patient swallowed a toy piece containing magnets. He was luckily not in any distress and was able to be discharged to home. If he had swallowed more than one magnet he would have required removal with a surgical procedure. | 18 MOM | |
| 142 | I1770431A | 201707 | 5 year old girl was playing with a chain of magnetic [magnetic set], put it in her mouth, and accidentally ingested one of them. It was an unwitnessed ingestion that was later reported to an older sibling, who notified the family. The patient required a visit to the [redacted] Hospital emergency room, and several Xrays to confirm the location of the ingested object and the number of [magnetic set]. If she had ingested more than one, she would have required a procedure under general anesthesia to remove the object. Thankfully, there was only one [magnetic set] so no emergency procedure was needed. She will need to be closely monitored over the next few days to ensure passage of this object in the stool– meaning that parents will have to sift through her bowel movements to confirm passage. If it has not passed or if she develops symptoms, she will need yet another Xray to assess the position and possibly an endoscopic procedure or surgery under general anestehsia to remove the object (depending on the location) | MA | 5 YOF |
| 143 | I1770297A 170724CCC3113 (Terminated) | 201707 | Swallowed 5 small neodynium magnets. Required emergent surgery with necrosis enterotomy from two segments of bowel. | TX | 23 MOF |
| 144 | I1770474A 180606CBB1759 | 201707 | a 10 year old child ingested two [magnet set] and required emergent upper endoscopy to try to remove them. Endoscopy was unsuccessful and he needed to be monitored for passage with serial abdominal XRays. [Magnet set] are extremely dangerous if ingested in multiples because they are very powerful magnets. If the magnets trap gastrointestinal mucosa in between them, they can lead to perforation, which is life threatening. | 10 YOM | |
| 145 | I1770529A | 201707 | Patient was playing with siblings and swallowed 4 pieces of magnetic check game pieces | 11 MOM | |
| 146 | I1790249A 170925CCC3304 (Terminated) | 201709 | Toddler swallowed the colorful magnetic balls, and they became lodged in the esophagus and stomach, stuck together and causing ulceration and visible damage after only 9 hours. If left in, the consequences would have been life-threatening. | 20 MOF | |
| 147 | X1791002A I1790449A | 201709 | 2 YOF was home with her father when she swallowed 28 small magnets. Her dad had them on his desk and had stepped away to use bathroom. When he came back, he saw she had them in her hand and worried. Doctors took x-rays and found magnets linked together inside her bowel, pinching bowel, starting to cause hole. Removed via endoscopy. | CO | 2 YOF |
| 148 | I1790149A 171201CCC1127 (Terminated) | 201709 |
I am a pediatric gastroenterologist, Today I consulted on a child who is currently hospitalized after swallowing several small magnets advertised on the products website as [redacted]
These products website, [redacted]: 1.”Meets CPSC Safety Requirements” 2. the products are marketed for children, as can be seen on the website 3. Some of their magnet products are even specifically marketed to children under the claim” Kid Friendly Magnets” [?!?!?] I don’t understand how the CPSC, which already has put out warnings about small magnets like the one featured at https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/kids-and-babies-toys/magnet-dangers can allow this product’s website to claim [redacted] magnets meets CPSC safety requirements and claim that small magnets can be “kid friendly” while the CPSC at the same time warn consumers to avoid products for children containing small magnets? | NY | 4 YOF |
| 149 | I17C0243A | 201712 | My 8 year old son swallowed two small round magnets yesterday. He found them at school and brought them home. While alone in his room, he played with them and was delighted to discover the magnets were strong enough to work through his teeth. He accidentally swallowed them. Thankfully he told me several hours later. I took him to the ER last night, where xrays showed the magnets inside his body. Fortunately, the two magnets were still attached to each other. The doctors sent us home for a few hours to sleep. Per their orders, we went back to the hospital today for follow up xrays. The magnets still appear to be attached to one another and traveling through his system together. The doctors opted against a medical procedure and are letting nature solve the problem. | NY | 8 YOM |
| 150 | X1810048A 171221CFE0001 (Terminated) X17C0617A | 201712 | An 11 year old girl was hospitalized after she accidentally swallowed small magnetic toys brought to school by a classmate. She was transported to hospital & test discovered that 2 of the magnetic spheres were lodged in the child’s intestine. She remained in the hospital for five days where she underwent three colonoscopies to dislodge the balls. | IL | 11 YOF |
| 151 | X1810253A 180111CFE0001 | 201712 | A 23 MOM swallowed magnetic balls. He complained of stomach pain. He was taken to ER where they found he swallowed 20 of them. Doctors used a scope to remove 6. Others passed naturally. Parents warn about this type of toy; it can be fatal. | FL | 23 MOM |
| 152 | I17C0176A 180606CBB1758 (Terminated) | 201712 | 2 rare earth magnets [redacted] ingested accidentally by a 14year old female. On XR of abdomen, 2 attached magnets seen. Underwent an upper endoscopy under anesthesia as could not be certain that there was no bowel trapped between the 2 magnets. The 2 magnets were removed from 2nd portion of duodenum without incident. Child discharged home uneventfully several hours later. | FL | 14 YOF |
| 153 | I1850162A 180823CCC2979 | 201805 | A 22-month-old patient of mine swallowed a string of small magnets (20 total). We had to arrange for endoscopy under general anesthesia to remove it. | 22 MOM | |
| 154 | H1860081A 180712CCC2876 (Terminated) | 201806 | The respondent stated that the 4 yr old male child swallowed 4 magnets from the set. He required surgery and 3 different parts of his intestines had to be removed. She stated that this incident had caused parts of his intestines to erode. She stated that the parents reported that the child had been complaining of stomach pains, he was taken to another hospital where he was seen and discharged. He returned 2 days to the same hospital had a CT scan where it showed a foreign body, he was then transferred to Children’s hospital where surgery was performed. Respondent stated that the magnets had been removed and he was now in recovery. | 4 YOM | |
| 155 | X1870845A 180718CFE0001 | 201807 | 13 YOM had 8 very powerful earth magnet rocks removed from his stomach and intestines. They were clamped together. He has severe developmental delay since birth. He was hospitalized. | 13 YOM | |
| 156 | I1880239A 180820CCC1929 (Terminated) | 201808 | My daughter was playing with 2 magnetic tongue rings. Accidently swallowed them and had to be admitted to the emergency room. They had to keep her under observation to make sure the magnets said together and didn’t separate. She had to be put on IV and have multiple xrays and given [REDACTED] to help the magnets come out. They warned us that if they got separated or stuck they would have to operate. | NJ | 11 YOF |
| 157 | I18B0438A | 201809 | My patient (6 year old girl) swallowed 20 rare earth magnets and required an exploratory laparotomy with small bowel resection and appendectomy. She had a protracted course involving a local wound infection. | TX | 6 YOF |
| 158 | X18B0406A 181115CFE0001 (Terminated) X18B0396A | 201810 | 6 YOM accidentally swallowed 14 fidget magnets while hiding fidget cube in his mouth. Parents noticed his symptoms progressed to nausea, vomiting and increasing pain in stomach. X-rays showed magnets, causing bowel obstruction, had surgery to remove magnets & appendix. | UT | 6 YOM |
| 159 | 181113CCC1072 I18B0054A | 201811 | A 4 YEAR-OLD BOY WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER INGESTING 12 HIGH-POWER NEODYMIUM MAGNETS ON A DARE FROM HIS OLDER BROTHERS. SINCE ALL THE MAGNETS WERE INGESTED AT ONCE AND HE WAS AT THE HOSPITAL WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF INGESTING THE MAGNETS, THEY WERE STILL IN HIS STOMACH AND ABLE TO BE REMOVED THROUGH AN UPPER ENDOSCOPY UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA. THE MAGNETS WERE EACH SMALL SILVER COLORED CUBES THAT WERE ABOUT 1/2 CM IN SIZE. SINCE THE PROCEDURE THE BOY IS BACK TO NORMAL ACTIVITY WITH NO ISSUES OR COMPLICATIONS. THE DOCTOR WAS UNABLE TO GET THE FAMILY TO AGREE TO TALK TO THE COMMISSION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. | PA | 4 YOM |
| 160 | X18B0726A 181116CFE0001 (Terminated) I1840338A | 201811 |
A 3 YOM swallowed four high-powered magnets and nearly died. He was taken to the ER and misdiagnosed with a strep throat and sent home with an antibiotic. His condition got worse. Back at the doctor’s office an x-ray showed something foreign inside his abdomen. Doctors discovered that square was four magnets that had stuck to one another.
The magnets were from a silicone trivet from a cookware set the family had received as a gift. It burnt holes and pinched his intestines. | ND | 3 YOM |
| 161 | 181206CCC2102 1827042040 | 201811 | A TWO-YEAR OLD BOY PASSED AWAY FROM COMPLICATIONS RESULTING FROM THE INGESTION OF 14 MAGNETIC BEADS. THE BOY HAD BEEN COMPLAINING OF STOMACH PAIN AND VOMITING FOR TWO DAYS PRIOR, AND AN EARLIER VISIT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM DID NOT REVEAL WHAT THE BOY HAD INGESTED OR THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM. THE BEADS FORMED A RING INSIDE THE CHILD’S SMALL INTESTINE, CREATING TORSION AND ULTIMATELY INTESTINAL ISCHEMIA AND OBSTRUCTION. BEADS WERE COLLECTED, BUT A MANUFACTURER/RETAILER COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. | MN | 2 YOM |
| 162 | 181212CBB3124 I18C0106A | 201811 | A 10 YEAR-OLD FEMALE INGESTED 26 MAGNETIC BALLS WHICH REQUIRED AN ENDOSCOPY TO REMOVE. 25 OF THE 26 BALLS WERE SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PERFORATION OF THE INTESTINE REPORTED. THE VICTIM HAS A HISTORY OF A LIVER SMALL BOWEL PANCREAS TRANSPLANT NINE YEARS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND WILL REQUIRE FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS TO MONITOR THE HEALTH OF THE TRANSPLANTED ORGANS. | NE | 10 YOF |
| 163 | X1910002A 190129CCC2116 (Terminated) X1920162A | 201812 | A 4 YOM swallowed 13 tiny magnets when he broke a magnetic toy open. He was hospitalized and had parts of colon and intestines removed. Magnets can stick the tract together because the fields travel through the digestive system. | WI | 4 YOM |
| 164 | I1920034A 190211CCC3168 (Terminated) | 201902 | A 13-year-old teenage girl was playing with several of small “rare earth” high potency spherical magnets in her mouth. The family does not know the brand name. She and her friends were pretending to make tongue rings with them. She accidentally swallowed one of the magnets. Then the following day she again accidentally swallowed 2 more – again while making pretend tongue rings. Two weeks later, she presented to her local emergency department for the unrelated symptom of cough. The ER doctor and got an x-ray and incidentally noted 3 magnets adhered to each other in the upper abdomen. An urgent upper endoscopy was performed, revealing that the magnets had caused the well established complication that we as physicians fear. The magnets had attracted each other with a loop of bowel in between, leading to a perforation through the stomach and small bowel. She required surgery, with all 3 magnets being successfully removed and the bowel perforation being successfully repaired. She is recovering right now | ID | 13 YOF |
| 165 | 190321CCC1310 H1930066A | 201902 | A CONSUMER TOOK HER EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL DUE TO SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN AND VOMITING. A CT SCAN REVEALED THAT THE CHILD HAD FOUR MAGNETIC BEADS IN HIS BOWEL. PHYSICIANS PERFORMED EMERGENCY SURGERY TO REMOVE THE MAGNETS AND REPAIR CHILD’S PERFORATED INTESTINE. HE WAS EXPECTED TO FULLY RECOVER. | NC | 8 YOM |
| 166 | H1930073A | 201903 |
Caller stated that her 3yr old son found the magnetic balls in her older son’s gym bag and ingested it (not sure of the date). He started complaining of a stomach ache and she took him to emergency room [REDACTED] hospital they did CT scan and found the foreign object, he was transported to [REDACTED] where surgery was performed to remove it. He was admitted at the hospital for 8 days, treatment was done to remove torn tissues from his bowels, his appendix had to be removed due to damages.
Caller stated that her 13 year old son had found the magnetic balls at his wrestling practice, there is no indication who made the balls but she would like some assistance in identifying the product because it should have never been on the market. | IL | 3 YOM |
| 167 | I1930090A 190321CCC2266 | 201903 | I am a pediatric gastroenterologist and I took care of an 11 year old female who accidentally swallowed two [magnet set]magnets that were initially in her stomach but migrated into her intestines. I attempted to retrieve the balls via an endoscope but was unsuccessful so patient was left to watch her stools to make sure the balls passed. There is a high risk of the magnetic balls coming together in her intestines and causing them to rupture or perforate and then needing emergency surgery, possibly leaving her with an ostomy or even death. | 11 YOF | |
| 168 | 190402CCC3294 I1930360A | 201903 | A 9 YEAR OLD MALE WAS PLACING HIGH POWERED MAGNETS ON HIS TONGUE TO IMPERSONATE A MUSICAL ARTIST IN HIS BEDROOM WHEN THE MALE INADVERTENTLY SWALLOWED ALL 14 MAGNETS. THE VICTIM HAD NO HISTORY OF INGESTING FOREIGN SUBSTANCES. THE VICTIM IMMEDIATELY INFORMED HIS PARENTS OF THE INCIDENT AND HE WAS TAKEN TO THE ED. THE VICTIM WAS X-RAYED. THE 14 MAGNETS WERE FOUND IN THE STOMACH. THE 14 MAGNETS WERE ABLE TO BE RECOVERED BY MEDICAL STAFF AND THE VICTIM PRESUMABLY MADE A FULL RECOVERY AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM MEDICAL CARE. | CO | 9 YOM |
| 169 | 190352632 | 201903 | 4 yom was laying on a pad during nap time at preschool and there was a toy sey up nearby with small magnetic balls pt swallowed one of the balls. dx ingested foreign body | 4 YOM | |
| 170 | X1940424C | 201904 | 6 YOF SWALLOWED 19 MAGNETS, CAUSING ULCERATIONS IN HER STOMACH AND LEAVING 2 MALL HOLES IN HER BOWEL. | 6 YOF | |
| 171 | X1940424A | 201904 | 9 YOM ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOWED 2 HIGH-POWERED MAGNETS. HE PUT 2 TO HIS MOUTH; THEY STUCK TOGETHER & WENT DOWN HIS THROAT. HE TOLD NURSE WHO CALLED HIS MOM. TAKEN TO MEDICAL FACILITY, TESTS SHOWED HE WASN’T IN IMMINENT DANGER; PASSED BOTH MAGNETS W/NO COMPLICATIONS. | MD | 9 YOM |
| 172 | 190412CCC1369 I1940138A | 201904 | A SIX YEAR-OLD BOY UNDERWENT AN ENDOSCOPY TO REMOVE 93 MAGNETIC BALLS THAT HE HAD INGESTED. THE MAGNETIC BALLS WERE PART OF 216-PIECE MAGNET SCIENCE KIT THAT HAD BEEN PURCHASED FOR THE BOY BY HIS PARENTS. UPON DISPLAYING A FEVER AND RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, THE PARENTS TOOK HIM TO AN URGENT CARE FACILITY WHERE A CHEST X-RAY REVEALED THE INGESTED MAGNETS THAT WERE LOCATED IN HIS UPPER STOMACH AREA. THE BOY WAS TRANSFERRED TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL AND THE MAGNETS WERE REMOVED BEFORE THEY WENT BEYOND THE BOY’S STOMACH. THE BOY WAS RELEASED THE SAME DAY AS THE PROCEDURE AND HAS COMPLETELY RECOVERED. | PA | 6 YOM |
| 173 | I1940285A 190423CCC3317 | 201904 | A 14 yo previously healthy male was playing with 4 rare earth magnets (he does not know the brand or where they were bought as they were his friend’s and he was playing with them at school). He was sticking them to his braces when they accidentally dislodged and were swallowed. They presented to a local ED where the magnets appeared to be stuck together in the stomach, but by the time they transferred to a large children’s hospital the magnets had progressed to the mid small bowel and were no longer reachable by endoscopy. He was admitted for two days on the surgery service and given a bowel cleanout with no passage of magnets. He was discharged and given instructions to continue bowel cleanout at home, but magnets still did not pass so he was scheduled for colonoscopy. When he arrived for colonoscopy another repeat xray showed that they had finally passed and the procedure was cancelled. | 14 YOM | |
| 174 | 190503CCC3358 I1950014A | 201904 | A 4 YOF SWALLOWED TWO HIGH POWERED MAGNETS IN HER HOME AFTER RETRIEVING THEM FROM ON TOP OF THE FRIDGE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF HER PARENTS. THE VICTIM IMMEDIATELY TOLD HER MOTHER THAT SHE SWALLOWED THE MAGNETS AND SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE ED. X-RAYS REVEALED THE MAGNETS PAST THE STOMACH AND THE VICTIM WAS GIVEN A CLEANOUT. AFTER FOUR DAYS THE MAGNETS WERE NO LONGER MOVING. LAPROSCOPIC SURGERY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN REMOVING THE MAGNETS FROM THE VICTIM’S DIGESTIVE TRACT. THE VICTIM WAS DISCHARGED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND HAS MADE A FULL RECOVERY. THE ORIGIN OF THE MAGNETS HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED AS THEY ARE SUSPECTED OF BEING OBTAINED THROUGH A CLASS PROJECT THAT THE VICTIM’S 14 YO COUSIN PARTICIPATED IN. | CO | 4 YOF |
| 175 | 190711CCC3493 | 201904 | A TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE VICTIM SWALLOWED SEVERAL PIECES FROM A MAGNETIC BUILDING SET. THE VICTIM WAS SEEN AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND SENT HOME THE SAME DAY. THE VICTIM’S CONDITION BECAME WORSE AND SHE WAS TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE TO A LARGE PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL WHERE DOCTORS PERFORMED AN UPPER ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE TO REMOVE THE TWENTY-ONE INGESTED PIECES OF THE MAGNETIC BUILDING SET. THERE WERE NO PERMANENT INJURIES. | TX | 2 YOF |
| 176 | I1940260A | 201904 | My kids eat this product,so small part without notice/warning words. | MT | Unk |
| 177 | 190520CCC3394 I1950284A | 201905 | A 6 YEAR OLD BOY INGESTED 4 SMALL ROUND MAGNETS THAT HIS OLDER SISTER FOUND IN A PLAYGROUND. HE WAS PLAYING WITH THE MAGNETS IN A DRINKING STRAW WHEN HE INHALED AND SWALLOWED THEM. THE VICTIM WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 5 DAYS UNTIL THE MAGNETS PASSED INTO HIS INTESTINES AND WERE ABLE TO BE REMOVED WITH A COLONOSCOPY PROCEDURE. NO INJURY TO THE VICTIM. | CA | 6 YOM |
| 178 | I1950396A 190528CCC1470 | 201905 | 2.5 year old patient ingested a few magnets from a bracelet with magnet beads over the course of 2 weeks. She presented to ER with abdominal pain. When we went in with endoscope, magnets were embedded in stomach and there were also some possibly in the transverse colon. As such, surgery team got involved to do an ex-lap. | 2 YOF | |
| 179 | H1960083A 190625CCC3466 (Terminated) | 201906 | 6 year old male child was bought into the hospital after experiencing vomiting and diarrhea for five days. Child has a history of swallowing foreign objects. Doctor had to operate and remove eight magnets from the child’s stomach. | 6 YOM | |
| 180 | I1980008A | 201907 |
A 4-year-old girl was playing with some spherical, ‘bee-bee’ sized ultra-strong magnets (‘rare earth magnets’) that I believe are designed to be used as bracelets. Her mother says that she was given them by a friend. The 4-year-old girl put them in her mouth and accidentally swallowed multiple magnets. The ingested magnets caused a bowel perforation, requiring surgery to a) remove the magnets from her, and b) repair the perforated bowel. Additionally, she had a prolonged hospital stay.
This is not an unusual complication from these rare earth magnets. I have personally been involved in 3 similar cases. These things should be banned. | 4 YOF | |
| 181 | I1990082A | 201907 |
23 month old girl was admitted to a children’s hospital after presenting with vomiting and decreased oral intake. Imaging was obtained, and revealed a radiopaque circular object, appearing like a beaded bracelet. The patient’s family denied having small magnetic beads/balls, and denied having access to [REDACTED]. Multiple imaging studies showed the persistent presence of the foreign body in the mid abdomen without clinical or radiographic evidence of obstruction. Due to continued poor oral intake and vomiting, the patient was taken to the operating room.
During the procedure, a loop of bowel with the foreign body in it was identified. This loop was adherent to adjacent loops of bowel. It was discovered that the magnets appeared to have eroded through the wall of the proximal jejunum and the magnets were in a portion of the mesentery to the terminal ileum. The ingested foreign body was confirmed to be magnetic balls. | MI | 23 MOF |
| 182 | X1970659A X1970682A | 201907 | A 7 YOM was taken to ER after he ate tiny magnets, meant to be as a stacking/sculpturing toy. Female consumer was given the magnets some time ago as a gift. The boy will live with complications. | OR | 7 YOM |
| 183 | 190712CCC3509 I1970145A | 201907 | A TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE SWALLOWED FIVE (5) 5MM HIGH-POWERED MAGNETS FROM A MAGNET SCULPTURE PUZZLE TOY, WITHOUT HER PARENTÆS KNOWLEDGE. SHE BECAME SICK WITH A FEVER AND STOMACH ACHE AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. THE HOSPITAL AT FIRST MISDIAGNOSED HER AS HAVING THE FLU. THE HOSPITAL TOOK AN X-RAY AND OBSERVED THE FIVE (5) MAGNETS IN HER INTESTINE. THE VICTIM WAS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL WHERE THE MAGNETS WERE SURGICALLY REMOVED VIA A MINI-LAPAROTOMY. THE VICTIM IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY. | CA | 2 YOF |
| 184 | 190730CCC1632 I1970421A | 201907 | AN 8-YEAR-OLD MALE SWALLOWED TWO MAGNETIC BALLS, EACH ESTIMATED TO BE 3MM IN DIAMETER, AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE REMAINED FOR 48 HOURS WHILE HE NATURALLY PASSED BOTH OBJECTS. THE BOY DID NOT REQUIRE SURGERY AND SUSTAINED NO INJURY AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. | MA | 8 YOM |
| 185 | I1980357A 190828CCC1696 | 201908 | 5 yo male swallowed 26 small round high-powered magnets. 2 were in the oropharynx just above the epiglottis, 14 were removed endoscopically (in the proximal duodenum)–these were attracted to 10 other magnets were were on the other side of the intestinal wall. 10 others were removed surgically (open laparotomy) where a cecal-jejunal fistula was noted. The fistula was repaired primarily and after 3 days of IV antibiotics, the child was discharged to home. | 5 YOM | |
| 186 | I1980379A 190828CCC3647 | 201908 | Boy had [REDACTED magnets and wondered what would happen if he swallowed them. 10 were swallowed necessitating urgent removal endoscopically under anesthesia. 10 magnets were successfully removed from the stomach. If they had passed into the intestines there would have been extremely high risk of intestinal perforation due to the strength of the magnets | 11 YOM | |
| 187 | 190911CCC1726 I1990119A | 201908 | A 5 YEAR-OLD MALE INGESTED 10 HIGH POWERED 5MM MAGNETS WHILE PLAYING WITH HIS OLDER BROTHER. THE VICTIM STARTED DEVELOPING ABDOMINAL PAIN AFTER TWO DAYS OF INGESTING THE MAGNETS. THE 10 HIGH POWERED MAGNETS WERE SURGICALLY REMOVED FROM THE VICTIM. THE VICTIM WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND DISCHARGED HOME. THE VICTIM HAS RECUPERATED FROM THE INCIDENT. | NY | 5 YOM |
| 188 | I1990335A | 201909 | 4-year-old child ingested six [redacted] 8×3 mm round cylinder magnets. Her parents brought her to a small local hospital where an X-ray demonstrated the magnets in her gastrointestinal tract. She was transferred to a children’s hospital where she required surgical removal of the magnets from her intestinal tract (including removal portion of her large and small intestines). She has recovered well. | VT | 4 YOF |
| 189 | 190916CCC2618 I1990209A | 201909 | A FOUR YEAR OLD AUTISTIC CHILD INGESTED 31 HIGH POWERED MAGNETS, AND HAD TO BE TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. TWO OF THE MAGNETS ATTACHED TO THE CHILD’S UVULA, AND WERE REMOVED BY THE CHILD’S PARENT. AN X-RAY AT THE HOSPITAL REVEALED THAT THE OTHER 29 MAGNETS WERE LODGED IN THE CHILD’S SMALL INTESTINE. THE TWENTY-NINE MAGNETS IN THE CHILD’S INTESTINE WERE REMOVED AT THE HOSPITAL WITH AN UPPER GI ENDOSCOPY. NO PERFORATION OF THE CHILD’S GI TRACT OCCURRED AND THE CHILD DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY FURTHER INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. | IN | 4 YOM |
| 190 | 191015CCC1039 I19A0168A | 201910 | A 5 YEAR-OLD BOY ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOWED TWO ROUND MAGNETS. THE BOY WAS ATTEMPTING TO PRETEND THE MAGNETS WERE BRACES AND PUT ONE BEHIND HIS TOOTH AND THE OTHER IN FRONT OF IT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE BOY IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIS MOTHER WHAT HAPPENED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE BOY WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR SIX DAYS AND AFTER FAILING TO PASS THE MAGNETS NATURALLY AND FAILED COLONOSCOPY, THE MAGNETS ENDED UP IN THE BOY’S APPENDIX. | PA | 5 YOM |
| 191 | I19A0161A 191015CCC2036 | 201910 | An 11-year-old healthy boy swallowed multiple magnets out of today almost 15, presented with back pain and abdominal pain to the pediatrician. magnets were in different parts of the small and large bowel. endoscopic removal unsuccessful and the patient was taken for surgery. | 11 YOM | |
| 192 | H19A0102A 191029CFE0002 (Terminated) | 201910 | Magnet ingestion resulting in surgery—A young boy (5 yrs old) who ate “rare earth” magnets used on the home refrigerator (I believe they are about 1 cm in length)—6 in total. Required bowel resection. The child was discharged to home. | VT | 5 YOM |
| 193 | 191114CFE0001 X19B0841A | 201911 | A 12 YEAR-OLD GIRL SWALLOWED TWO SMALL MAGNET BALLS WHICH SHE RECEIVED FROM A CLASSMATE AT SCHOOL. THE VICTIM DEVELOPED ABDOMINAL PAIN AND A HIGH FEVER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. ON NOVEMBER 13, 2019 THE VICTIM UNDERWENT A COLONOSCOPY TO REMOVE THE MAGNETS. | NE | 12 YOF |
| 194 | I2010274A 200123CCC1241 | 201911 |
I am a pediatric gastroenterologist and was called to remove 11 magnets from the stomach of an 15 month old girl.
The magnets were part of a jewelry set. They were very powerful and formed a ring which punctured through the lining of her stomach. | WV | 15 MOF |
| 195 | I19C0311A 191230CCC1192 (Terminated) | 201912 | 4 year old child swallowed 23 rare earth metal magnets. She reported swallowing them because they were “pretty”. She was taken to the ER after reporting the incident to her parents. She was transferred to our hospital for removal. She was placed under anesthesia and had endoscopic removal completed. Magnets were adherent to the mucosa of her stomach and due to the difficulty of removal she was admitted for 24hr observation and had 2 X-rays following her removal. She was discharged home. No further damage was suspected thankfully due to the fast action of her parents and the Pediatric GI Endoscopy team. | FL | 4 YOF |
| 196 | I19C0381A 191230CCC3198 (Terminated) | 201912 | This product is very dangerous. Three magnets were accidentally ingested by my 16 month old son, unknowingly. It caused severe dehydration and vomiting. He ended up in the ER undergoing immediate emergency surgery. He had an exploratory laparotomy, a surgery to open up the belly area. They found that he had numerous holes in his small intestines from the magnets. They had to remove a portion of his intestines. He was hospitalized for 8 days. These magnets are very dangerous and should not be on the market as they can cause a lot of damage. | 16 MOM | |
| 197 | X2010149A 200113CFE0001 | 201912 | 8 YOF was playing with magnet set, with her sisters, when she swallowed a pair of magnets. Her and her sisters informed their parents. 8 YOF was taken to the hospital, where she underwent multiple procedures to extract the magnets. She is okay at this time. | SC | 8 YOF |
| 198 | I2010376A 200129CCC2236 | 201912 | Ingestion of 6 [REDACTED] type magnets from a child’s toy, that led to need for endoscopic removal along with general anesthesia, and the risks associated with this. I have not been able to contact the family to share any of the personal health information with the CPSC. | 11 YOF | |
| 199 | X2020182A 200211CFE0002 | 201912 | 2 YOF accidentally swallowed 17 earth magnets. She was taken to the hospital. | DC | 2 YOF |
| 200 | I2060248A 200622CCC1598 | 201912 | 7 Y female, swallowed 9 magnets. She was wearing the magnets as a bracelet that was given to her by a friend. She was playing with it with her teeth and accidentally swallowed them. They were removed endoscopically. | NY | 7 YOF |
| 201 | X2010211A 200115CFE0001 200115CFE0001 | 202001 | 2 YOM swallowed 23 magnetic beads from a toy set. They were discovered when he was taken to the doctor for what his parents thought were flu symptoms. 2 YOM was taken to the hospital and received surgery. | TN | 2 YOM |
| 202 | 200122CCC3208 I2010269A | 202001 | A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD MALE SWALLOWED SEVERAL MAGNETS FROM A MAGNETIC BUILDING SET. THE BOY WAS SEEN AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND UNDERWENT AN OPERATION TO TREAT A COLONIC JEJUNAL FISTULA. HE WAS RELEASED AFTER SPENDING 23 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL. | TX | 7 YOM |
| 203 | I2010312A 200124CCC2208 | 202001 |
A 2-year-old patient developed abdominal pain and vomiting and this continued intermittently through the weekend. She came to the emergency room and an x-ray showed 8 magnetic foreign bodies in the abdomen, stuck together. The father realized that his toy magnets were missing and recognized the foreign bodies as his magnets. The mother had purchased two sets of magnets for the family — [magnet set] as well as some toy [magnet set]: [REDACTED].
The patient was taken to the operating room, where an open abdominal exploration was performed. It was found that the magnets had eroded through parts of the small and large intestine, creating 3 fistulae. The fistulae in the intestines were repaired surgically and part of the large intestine had to be resected (proximal cecectomy) as well as an appendectomy. The patient was discharged from the hospital 4 days after her surgery. The magnets found in the patient appeared to be colored, which were consistent with the [magnet set] . | GA | 2 YOF |
| 204 | I2010377A 200129CCC2237 | 202001 | Patient was playing with 2 [REDACTED] type magnets in his mouth, reclined while playing video games, and swallowed the magnets. Required serial x rays of the abdomen, a bowel cleanout, and ultimately a colonoscopy to remove the magnets. There was no tissue damage, but he did incur the risk and cost of the procedure, general anesthesia, and a bowel cleanout. He was hospitalized for 2.5 days. | IN | 10 YOM |
| 205 | H2010100A | 202001 |
The caller said that a 10 year old child ingested 2 magnets from a toy. The child was playing with the toy at school and ingested 2 magnets. The child was rushed to [REDACTED] Hospital, and he was transferred to the caller’s care. The magnets did not attract to each other inside the child’s system and appear were passing through the child’s system.
The caller said that they had a similar case last year. The product in this report is similar to the one in the following link. [REDACTED] The caller did not have the product, so more specific details could not be provided. | 10 YOM | |
| 206 | I2020010A 200203CCC1267 | 202002 | A 9 YOM accidentally ingested 3 small spherical magnets, and then developed nausea. He was admitted to a hospital for close monitoring due to high risk of intestinal perforation. Brand of the magnets is unknown, but appearance on x-ray is consistent with neodymium magnet balls (e.g. [magnet set], [magnet set], [magnet set], etc.). By report, he was trying to make the magnets connect around his tongue to appear as though his tongue was pierced, when he accidentally swallowed them. | PA | 9 YOM |
| 207 | I2020033A 200204CCC3227 | 202002 |
I am reported the second case of high powered magnet ingestion in the past 10 days that was transfer to my care for higher level of care.
This is a case of healthy 9 year old that ingested about 150 of spherical 5 mm magnets as part of 224 package marketed under name of [redacted] and sold by [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] This child unfortunately underwent gastrostomy surgical procedure following endoscopic intervention fail to remove the cluster of attracted magnets.in his stomach. With recent marketing and increase in variety of these high power magnets specially with smaller dimeter sizes, they are becoming more dangerous then ever. Significant surge of new cases have been noticed again over the past two year. | CA | 9 YOM |
| 208 | X2020211A 200211CFE0001 | 202002 |
Text of relevant portion excerpted from the Submitter’s email message:
The same doctor […] also saw a 10 year old boy that ate 2 magnets. I spoke to the mother and she is willing to see me. The victim ate the magnets while at school. I was going to check with the school today to see if they still have the packaging to see the brand name, etc. | CA | 10 YOM |
| 209 | H2020083A 200228CCC2325 | 202002 |
Respondent is reporting that a 9 yr old child swallowed the magnetic balls while he was trying to separate them with his teeth. She was informed that the child obtained the balls while he was home.
The child was brought to [REDACTED] hospital where he was admitted and surgery was done. The child sustained intestinal perforations. The patient is still in recovery at this time. | OH | 9 YOM |
| 210 | I2030181A 200323CCC2375 (Terminated) | 202003 |
[REDACTED] is a 5y old male who presents with complaints of being well until when he saw his brother’s magnet set – obtained from a neighbor ([redacted], Rare Earth Neodymium multi-colored) – played with them and then because of a [REDACTED] video decided to see how they tasted and swallowed a number (11 in total).
He had some coughing and sore throat and then some vomiting, and the magnets remained. He then told his mom and she took him straight to [REDACTED] where the xray confirmed the 11 total magnets; 2 in the epiglottis area right in the voice box at the entrance of the trachea and 9 in the stomach, stuck together. I was on call for Gastroenterology and for Endoscopy and was called by the Urgent Care physician. I arranged ambulance transport and had an OR team come in including our Gi lab endoscopy nurse. The Radiology report from the Nose-to-Rectum series of films was as follows: Foreign body: Round metallic spheres are present consistent with ingested magnets. | GA | 5 YOM |
| 211 | I2040230A 200421CCC1479 | 202004 | A 3 year old boy was taken to our Emergency Room after having swallowed multiple magnetic balls, from a set that belonged to his 9 year old sister. An x-ray showed multiple small magnetic balls in stomach. I performed endoscopy to prevent migration of these magnets and injury to the gastrointestinal tract. About 30 small magnets could be separated from the large mass of magnetic balls, totaling more than 150. Patient had to undergo surgical removal of the remaining magnetic balls. | VA | 3 YOM |
| 212 | I2040304A 200428CCC1483 | 202004 |
7 year old girl swallowed 18colorful neodymium ball magnets ([REDACTED] like). Swallowed all at once however due to concern for large number and fluidity/movement of balls with possible entrapment of mucosa between ends of mass, ASAP endoscopy completed to retrieve ball magnets.
Although not marketed toward children, these are colorful and fun to play with – again putting children in danger of perforation of their bowel if bowel stuck between 2 magnets | 7 YOF | |
| 213 | I2040319A 200430CCC2448 (Terminated) | 202004 | We had 2 patients (19 month old and 10 year old) who swallowed >5 “magnetic toys”. The ingestion of multiple magnets is deemed an emergency and prompt removal is necessary to avoid complications, such as intestinal perforation. | 19 MOF | |
| 214 | I2040319B 200430CCC2449 (Terminated) | 202004 | We had 2 patients (19 month old and 10 year old) who swallowed >5 “magnetic toys”. The ingestion of multiple magnets is deemed an emergency and prompt removal is necessary to avoid complications, such as intestinal perforation. | 10 YOM | |
| 215 | X2070057A 200707CCC1626 (Terminated) | 202004 | THE 43-YEARS-OLD MALE DECEDENT SWALLOWED MAGNETS. CAUSE OF DEATH: ACUTE PERITONITIS DUE TO SMALL BOWEL PERFORATION DUE TO INGESTION OF FOREIGN BODIES. | NY | 43 YOM |
| 216 | I2060214A | 202005 | 22 month old female with no significant past medical history who presented to an ED after swallowing 10 magnets. Serial imaging showed retained magnets in small bowel thus [REDACTED] underwent a laparotomy with General surgery. | 22 MO | |
| 217 | X2061648A | 202005 | 8 YOM was playing with [redacted] magnets when he ingested 7 of them. He was taken to the hospital, where they were removed. He is recovering from his injuries. | IN | 8 YOM |
| 218 | I2050175A 200514CCC3512 (Terminated) | 202005 | Patient was using [magnetic set] to pretend he had a lip piercing and then ingested them. Required admission to hospital for monitoring due to risk of bowel perforation. Magnets thankfully passed without incident. | WA | 13 YOM |
| 219 | I2050188A 200515CCC1516 | 202005 | I am a pediatrician, and a patient of mine accidentally swallowed 2 magnet balls when trying to separate them with his mouth. They were advertised as stress relief magnet balls, which is why his mother purchased them for him. He subsequently had to go to the emergency room. The magnets ended up getting stuck within his intestine and he needed an intestinal surgery to remove them. These magnets are VERY unsafe and should not be marketed as stress relief toys for children. | 13 YOM | |
| 220 | X2051403A 200526CFE0001 | 202005 | 8 YOM was playing with [redacted] magnetic balls when he placed 7 in his mouth and ingested them. His mother took him to the emergency room. Surgery was performed to remove the magnets. 8 YOM is back home recovering. | 8 YOM | |
| 221 | I2050332A 200527CCC1546 | 202005 | A 9 yr old girl ingested 3 of the [redacted] magnets. She presented to our hospital with abdominal pain, and we found the magnets to have caused a fistula between the stomach and jejunum as the strong force caused them to oppose in 2 separate regions of her intestine. She required emergency surgery for this life threatening situation and has now recovered. | MA | 9 YOF |
| 222 | I2060249A 200622CCC1599 | 202005 | Swallowed 15 magnets, was playing with them. Endoscopically removed. | NY | 3 YOF |
| 223 | I2060207A | 202006 | 3 yo child who swallowed 4 high powered magnets in their home. The magnets were used on the refrigerator and were about 3mm diameter discs. The magnets were not passing on their own and had to be removed endoscopically. No damage was noted to tissue. | 3 YOM | |
| 224 | I2060194A 200616CCC2548 (Terminated) | 202006 | High powered tiny spherical magnets (magnetic set/Super strong earth magnets, all brands) ingested accidentally by a 12 year old male playing with friends and putting them on face to appear like piercings, swallowed 5 spheres and they became lodged in the stomach and required surgery and endoscopic retrieval. These magnets continue to be ingested and have caused intestinal perforation, gastric perforation, and need for surgery with possible bowel resection. They are difficult to retrieve with an endoscope due to the small size and magnetic nature, often times found in a stomach full of food which makes it difficult to find, radiation from imaging required to identify the location of the object and carries with it not only the risk of a hole or tear in the stomach from eroding through parts of the gastrointestinal tract if the multiple magnets become separated. As a pediatric gastroenterologist, my colleagues and I are seeing an increased number of these preventable injuries related to the rare earth magnets and was shocked to hear they were able to be back on the market given the known high risks it poses to patients of all ages. | IN | 12 YOM |
| 225 | I2060221A 200618CCC2560 | 202006 | Male child swallowed 18 high-powered round magnets he was playing with at home. This led to deep ulceration of his stomach and small intestine which required a laparotomy for surgical repair. | IN | 8 YOM |
| 226 | I2060233A 200618CCC2562 | 202006 | Female child ingested 6 disc-shaped magnets which required hospitalization and a colonoscopy for removal | IN | 12 YOF |
| 227 | I2060298A 200624CCC1600 | 202006 |
A 5 year old presented to our hospital after ingesting 3 [redacted] high-powered magnets. The father reportedly purchased [redacted] magnets ‘well over’ 5 years ago, before they had children. We (physicians) clarified this point with the family; the father was certain it was [redacted] product, as opposed to another high-powered magnet brand, and bought them shortly after the product became available in the U.S. The family still has the magnets but does not have any packaging or storage containers. They do not believe they still have receipts or proof of purchase but will double check.
The parents were aware of the dangers of these products and stored them on top of the refrigerator. From time to time, Mom stated that she will find some magnets ‘in the couch or around the house’ and that ‘they are very easy to misplace.’ She presumes this is how her 5-year old found the magnets, as the bulk of the product remained out of reach on top of the refrigerator. | NY | 5 YOM |
| 228 | I2060329A 200625CCC1614 | 202006 | 3 year old male who swallowed 2 rare earth magnets. Magnets became lodged in stomach mucosa and required endoscopic and surgical laparotomy for removal. | 3 YOM | |
| 229 | I2060368A 200629CCC2590 | 202006 | Multiple magnet ingestion in a child | IN | 4 YOF |
| 230 | I2070076A 200707CCC3655 | 202006 | 8 year old girl swallowed multiple magnetic balls (toys) that got stuck in her intestines. She ultimately needed surgery to open up her abdomen to remove the magnets | TX | 8 YOF |
| 231 | I2060205A 200728CCC2710 | 202006 | 14 month old child swallowed two clusters of 3 connected neodymium “[magnetic set]. The first cluster of 3 was in the back of the throat and required an emergency removal (that required helicopter medical emergency transport from rural emergency room to tertiary care health center) by ENT specialist because of high risk to get stuck in airway and cause respiratory arrest, and the second cluster of 3 was in the intestinal tract. This required a multi-day hospitalization for serial xrays and exams to monitor passage given the high risk of intestinal perforation if the magnets were to separate and come together again between pieces of intestine. | 14 MOM | |
| 232 | I2070077A 200707CCC3656 (Terminated) 200707CCC3656 | 202007 | 3 year old girl who swallowed multiple magnetic balls (toys) that got stuck in her intestines, needing an endoscopy to get the magnets out. | TX | 3 YOF |
| 233 | I2070186A 200715CCC1656 (Terminated) | 202007 | I am reporting a pediatric patient who ingested [magnetic set] beads (brand unknown) requiring hospital admission, procedure (endoscopy) and overnight monitoring for symptoms. | MA | 9 YOM |
| 234 | I2070303A 200722CCC1670 (Terminated) | 202007 | 9 yo old male accidentally swallowed 10 magnets. | 9 YOM | |
| 235 | I2070301A 200728CCC1683 | 202007 | Patient came in with 2 swallowed neodymium magnets required endoscopic removal. | NY | 12 YOF |
| 236 | I2070155A 200728CCC3720 (Terminated) | 202007 | Patient is a 3 year old male who was playing at his cousins house. Patient ingested the following product: [redacted] set of 512 (2.5mm) Magnetic Balls without parent having any knowledge of this. Patient incidentally found to have the foreign body on screening chest x-ray performed by another health care provider. This was done 5 days after ingestion occurred. Patient admitted to hospital for observation and may require surgical intervention for removal of the magnetic toy from his small intestine. | CO | 3 YOM |
| 237 | X2080913A 200827CFE0003 (Terminated) | 202007 |
Doctor stated that a 28 month old boy was seen who had swallowed [small magnet balls]. Items were multi-colored, small, round magnets. Doctor stated that the mother saw the child put them in his mouth and she pulled two out of the child’s mouth. The mother then took the child to the hospital where physicians found seven in his stomach which had to be scoped out. Three more magnets were found in the child’s intestines and passed on their own with no perforation to the intestines. The doctor stated that the child had to have swallowed three of the magnets hours before the other seven which were found in the stomach to have already made it into colon. The child was put on acid blocking medication for two months to treat ulcerations in the stomach from the eroding magnets. The child was released without additional treatment.
The doctor was unable to provide any additional information concerning the incident. | WI | 2 YOM |
| 238 | I2080381A 200826CCC1850 | 202008 | 18 mo swallowed 7 rare earth magnets. As the pediatric gastroenterologist on call, I was notified when patient presented to our emergency room. X-ray showed that the magnets were likely in the stomach. She underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy for retrieval. Magnets were found in both the esophagus and stomach. Magnets were very strong and adherent/attracted to each other. They were found to be traversing from the stomach, through the mucosa of the lower esophageal sphincter into the esophagus – essentially a perforation. The child did well following the procedure. Perforation stayed within the walls of the GI tract. Her outcome could have been much worse. These products need to be removed from the market again. | 18 MOF | |
| 239 | I2090122A 200909CCC2859 (Terminated) | 202008 | I am a pediatric gastroenterologist and took care of an 11 year old boy who had swallowed 4 small magnet balls that were found in his stomach. The boy had to undergo endoscopic surgery to remove the balls before they migrated into his intestines and could cause significant harm to his bowels. | 11 YOM | |
| 240 | I2090173A 200915CCC1918 | 202009 | 4 year old boy ingested three magnets. In the stomach on XR – underwent endoscopic removal. | 4 YOM | |
| 241 | I2090196A 200915CCC1919 (Terminated) | 202009 | 3 high powered magnets [magnet set] ingested accidentally by a 10 year old girl. She had to be hospitalized to monitor progression of magnets and was discharged without need for endoscopic removal (as they were located initially in small bowel) or other surgical intervention. Patient was asymptomatic throughout presentation and admission. She reported that she was given some of these [small magnet balls] by a friend and she was playing with them in her mouth when she accidentally swallowed them. | 10 YOF | |
| 242 | I2090175A 200915CCC2878 (Terminated) | 202009 | 15 yo male presented after having an x-ray from his chiropractor for back pain that revealed the presence of 8 small high power magnetic balls in his abdomen. They were by report ingested 2.5 months prior to presentation. They were unable to be passed spontaneously or with the use of enemas. There was concern for perforation so no cleanout was attempted orally, only with enemas. A series of x-rays were obtained which showed no movement of the magnets. He required surgery which revealed the magnets trapped in a fistula that had formed between two loops of small bowel. Magnets were removed and fistula resected. | 15 YOM | |
| 243 | I2090167A 200915CCC3878 (Terminated) | 202009 | Patient is a 9 YOM who was playing with magnets. He placed two magnets on his lip as a pretend lip piercing and then swallowed them. He required visit to ED, emergent endoscopy procedure in an effort to retrieve the magnets, and hospital admission as the magnets could not be retrieved. Patient required serial x-ray images along with medications to aid with magnet progression through the intestine. | 9 YOM | |
| 244 | I20A0150A 201019CCC1051 (Terminated) | 202010 | 2 year old boy swallowed 11 small round magnet toys (unsure exact brand). Had to have endoscopy to remove them. Removal was successful and he was able to be discharged. | NY | 2 YOM |
| 245 | X20B0356A 201125CCC1179 | 202011 | A 6 YOM swallowed magnet balls that he’d received as a gift. He was taken to the emergency room and found to have 8 holes in his colon and required multiple surgeries. | NJ | 6 YOM |
| 246 | I20C0072A 201207CCC3224 | 202011 | 12 YOM presented to ED with bilious emesis and abdominal pain. Reported swallowing magnets [redacted]. EGD with 9 magnets stuck together in a block unable to remove. Had an ex lap and part of the small bowel was adhering to the stomach magnets. these were detached and the endoscopist was able to remove the 9 magnets in the stomach. The last magnet was left in the jejunum to pass on it’s own. The patient admitted that he had swallowed the 10th magnet a couple of days earlier. Unfortunately the 10th magnet failed to progress and as it was questioned whether he might have swallowed an 11th magnet, he had an enterotomy for removal of the magnet. he was discharged the next day. | 12 YOM | |
| 247 | X20C0528A 201223CCC3298 | 202012 | 11 YOF swallowed magnetic balls. They became lodged in her colon. Her parents took her to the hospital, where the magnets had to be surgically removed. | TX | 11 YOF |