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Small bowel obstruction with bowel ischemia due to ingestion of water-absorbing bead

Alexandra Castro1, Razi Haq1, Lyle Gesner1

  • 1Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, 94 Old Short Hills Rd, Livingston, NJ 07039, United States of America.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|July 30, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Foreign body ingestion is a risk for young children, with coins being common in the US. This case highlights a rare complication: superabsorbent polymer water beads causing pediatric small bowel obstruction and ischemia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Toxicology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Foreign body aspiration is a significant cause of accidental death in children under 4.
  • High-risk groups include children aged 6 months to 3 years, adolescent boys, and those with mental health issues.
  • While most ingested foreign bodies pass harmlessly, complications like esophageal obstruction can occur.

Observation:

  • Coins are the most frequent foreign body ingested in the US.
  • Food-related items like fish bones are common in other countries.
  • This report details an unusual case involving superabsorbent polymer water beads.

Findings:

  • Superabsorbent polymer water beads, when ingested, can lead to serious gastrointestinal complications.
  • The case presented involved small bowel obstruction and subsequent bowel ischemia in a pediatric patient.
  • This highlights a previously undocumented risk associated with these common household items.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider superabsorbent polymer water beads in the differential diagnosis for pediatric bowel obstruction.
  • Awareness of this risk is crucial for public health and parental education regarding child safety.
  • Further research may be needed to understand the full spectrum of complications from ingesting these materials.

Keywords:
Bowel ischemiaBowel obstructionEmergency MedicinePediatric ingestionsPediatric surgeryPublic healthRadiologySurgeryUltrasoundVomitingWater bead

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