Oesophagus: button battery: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Oesophagus: button battery

Sample item

A child swallows a button battery that is lodged in the oesophagus. What is the appropriate management?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Emergency endoscopic removal

An oesophageal button battery causes liquefactive necrosis within hours from electrical current and can perforate or fistulise to the aorta or trachea. It must be removed urgently, ideally within two hours.

Option by option

  • A. Give oral laxatives

    Laxatives do not help an impacted battery.

  • B. Observation for passage in stool

    Observation risks severe injury.

  • C. Induce vomiting

    Vomiting can aspirate or worsen injury.

  • D. Emergency endoscopic removal (correct)

    Correct. Urgent removal prevents tissue necrosis.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Emergency endoscopic removal. An oesophageal button battery causes liquefactive necrosis within hours from electrical current and can perforate or fistulise to the aorta or trachea.

Why is "Give oral laxatives" not the answer?

Laxatives do not help an impacted battery.

Why is "Observation for passage in stool" not the answer?

Observation risks severe injury.

Why is "Induce vomiting" not the answer?

Vomiting can aspirate or worsen injury.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oesophagus: button battery in ENT. It must be removed urgently, ideally within two hours.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Oesophagus: button battery?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.