A two-year-old boy from a hill tribe community was saved after emergency surgery at Chom Thong Hospital in Chiang Mai when doctors discovered a button battery lodged in his oesophagus. The child had swallowed the battery without his family noticing, and doctors warned that a delay could have led to a life-threatening perforation of the digestive tract. Get today's headlines by email The case was revealed on 15 June 2026 through a Facebook post by “Rainy Waritt”, which shared details provided by surgeon Dr Sompong (Pong Surgeon) of Chom Thong Hospital. Medical staff successfully removed the flat, round battery from the child’s oesophagus using an endoscopic procedure. The incident began during a night shift when Chom Thong Hospital was contacted about a two-year-old patient being transferred from Sob Moei District in Mae Hong Son Province. Relatives suspected the child had swallowed a coin after he developed a cough and noisy breathing. The referring hospital had initially contacted nearby facilities, but equipment limitations meant the child was redirected to Chom Thong Hospital, the nearest general hospital, rather than undertaking a difficult journey through mountainous roads to Mae Hong Son Provincial Hospital. Doctors reviewing X-ray images noticed a circular object lodged in the oesophagus. A closer examination revealed a distinctive double-ring appearance, indicating the object was not a coin but a button battery commonly found in children’s toys and small electronic devices. When the ambulance arrived shortly after 3am, the medical team acted immediately. The child was taken into emergency surgery at 4am because button batteries can cause severe injuries if they move into the stomach or intestines, where removal becomes more difficult. Doctors warned that corrosive chemicals and acids inside damaged batteries can leak and burn through the digestive tract, potentially causing fatal injuries. As the patient was very young, doctors administered general anaesthesia and inserted a breathing tube before using a small adult-sized oesophageal endoscope with a 2.8-millimetre instrument channel. They located the battery and successfully removed it through the child’s mouth using specialised forceps. The child recovered well following the procedure. Doctors removed the breathing tube, and he was able to eat normally before being discharged to return home with his family in Sob Moei District the following morning. Manager Online reported that the case has been highlighted as a warning to parents and carers. The child’s father, mother and grandmother had no idea when he had swallowed the battery. Doctors urged families to keep small objects and toys containing button batteries out of reach of young children and to ensure battery compartments are securely fastened. Picture courtesy of MGR Online Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 17 June 2026
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