Role of Honey and Acetic Acid in Mitigating the Effects of Button Battery in Esophageal Mucosa: A Cadaveric Animal Model Experimental Study

The objective of our study was to evaluate the role of honey and acetic acid in mitigating the mucosal injury posed by button battery using esophagus specimens from goat cadavers. This was an in vitro experimental cadaveric animal model laboratory study. We used 40 specimens of cadaveric goat esophagus and divided into four groups (A, B, C and D). The first comparison was between group A (specimens with button battery only) and group B (specimens with button battery coated with honey) for the difference in the degree of mucosal injury and change in pH and temperature. The second comparison was between group C (specimens with button battery removed after six hours) and group D (specimens with 5% acetic acid applied following the removal of the battery after six hours) for the difference in the progression of the mucosal injury and change in pH and temperature. The observer was blinded regarding the allocation of the groups. We used Fisher's exact test and independent sample t-test, to evaluate the statistical association. There was a statistically significant reduction in the degree of mucosal injury in specimens applied with button battery coated with honey compared to the specimens applied with button battery only. Similarly, progression of the mucosal injury was halted in specimens with the application of acetic acid following the removal of the button battery. Honey and acetic acid can mitigate the mucosal effects posed by the button battery in cadaveric goat esophageal specimens.