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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

An Immature Murine Model of Reversible Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction
Published on: April 4, 2025
Bowel obstruction due to ingestion of a water-absorbing bead
M Fuger1, C Desmoulins2, N Khen Dunlop3
1Emergency department, Necker-enfants-malades hospital, Assistance publique-hôpitaux de Paris, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France; Paris-Descartes university, 15, rue de l'École-de-Médecine, 75270 Paris, France.
Abstract:
Foreign body ingestion is a common pediatric complaint. Most foreign bodies pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract, but bowel obstruction is a rare complication that can occur. We report a case of a 14-month-old infant with complete bowel obstruction due to ingestion of a polymer bead used for botanical arrangements. A laparotomy was performed to remove the object, resolving the symptoms. Polymer beads are brightly coloured and are of a size that is easy to swallow by very young children, increasing the risk of accidental ingestion. They increase in size over a short period of time during their passage through the gastrointestinal tract, causing significant morbidity.
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