Intentional ingestion of batteries and razor blades by a prisoner: a true emergency?
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 23 September 2021
Issue publication date: 21 July 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Few case studies in the literature report on adult patients with intentional foreign body ingestion. Prisoners deliberately ingest foreign bodies, such as cylindrical alkaline batteries and razor blades, to achieve hospitalization or commit suicide. The purpose of this paper is to present a case of deliberate ingestion of batteries and razor blades by an inmate.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors present a case of an incarcerated man in Greece, who intentionally ingested three cylindrical alkaline batteries and three razor blades wrapped in aluminum foil.
Findings
The patient was treated conservatively with serial radiographs and was subsequently discharged without complication. This paper discusses the complications and examine the current guidelines available.
Originality/value
To best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a simultaneous ingestion of batteries and razor blades.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this workConflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interestAuthor contribution: Conceptualization: PI, MGData curation: PI, MG, MM, AAFormal analysis: PI, MG, MM, AAInvestigation: PI, MG, MMMethodology: PI, MGRoles/Writing - original draft: PI, MG, MM, AAWriting - review & editing: PI, MG, MM, AAProject administration: KGSupervision: KG
Citation
Pantazopoulos, I., Mavrovounis, G., Mermiri, M., Adamou, A. and Gourgoulianis, K. (2022), "Intentional ingestion of batteries and razor blades by a prisoner: a true emergency?", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 316-322. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-06-2021-0054
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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