Small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12-month-old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizure

Although foreign body ingestion is relatively common in children aged 6 months-3 years, small bowel obstruction rarely develops, and few cases require surgical interventions. We report a case of 12-month-old girl who presented to the emergency department with new-onset seizure after projectile bilio...

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Main Authors: Na Ra Lee, Hyun Beak Shin, Yeon Jun Jeong, Sun Jun Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Society of Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2019-12-01
Series:Pediatric Emergency Medicine Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://pemj.org/upload/pdf/pemj-2019-00115.pdf
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author Na Ra Lee
Hyun Beak Shin
Yeon Jun Jeong
Sun Jun Kim
author_facet Na Ra Lee
Hyun Beak Shin
Yeon Jun Jeong
Sun Jun Kim
author_sort Na Ra Lee
collection DOAJ
description Although foreign body ingestion is relatively common in children aged 6 months-3 years, small bowel obstruction rarely develops, and few cases require surgical interventions. We report a case of 12-month-old girl who presented to the emergency department with new-onset seizure after projectile bilious vomiting. The initial diagnosis was seizure caused by hyponatremia based on laboratory findings, plain abdominal radiograph, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and electroencephalography. Despite fluid resuscitation, clinical manifestations did not improve, and severe ileal obstruction was found on computed tomography. Emergency laparoscopy showed a foreign body (a water bead [superabsorbent polymer], 3 cm in diameter) that was subsequently removed by enterotomy. After the surgery, bilious vomiting continued, and gastrografin did not pass on fluoroscopy. The second laparoscopy showed a residual foreign body that was crushed and then removed by minimal enterotomy. She was discharged in good condition 5 days after the second surgery. This case suggests a particular danger of water beads as foreign bodies and the need for differential diagnosis of multiple foreign bodies in children with poor communication skills.
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spelling doaj.art-18602f4fcd7d4bdb85d1525427f19a9a2023-04-04T23:49:08ZengKorean Society of Pediatric Emergency MedicinePediatric Emergency Medicine Journal2383-48972508-55062019-12-0162869110.22470/pemj.2019.0011586Small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12-month-old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizureNa Ra Lee0Hyun Beak Shin1Yeon Jun Jeong2Sun Jun Kim3Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, KoreaDepartment of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, KoreaDepartment of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, KoreaDepartment of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, KoreaAlthough foreign body ingestion is relatively common in children aged 6 months-3 years, small bowel obstruction rarely develops, and few cases require surgical interventions. We report a case of 12-month-old girl who presented to the emergency department with new-onset seizure after projectile bilious vomiting. The initial diagnosis was seizure caused by hyponatremia based on laboratory findings, plain abdominal radiograph, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and electroencephalography. Despite fluid resuscitation, clinical manifestations did not improve, and severe ileal obstruction was found on computed tomography. Emergency laparoscopy showed a foreign body (a water bead [superabsorbent polymer], 3 cm in diameter) that was subsequently removed by enterotomy. After the surgery, bilious vomiting continued, and gastrografin did not pass on fluoroscopy. The second laparoscopy showed a residual foreign body that was crushed and then removed by minimal enterotomy. She was discharged in good condition 5 days after the second surgery. This case suggests a particular danger of water beads as foreign bodies and the need for differential diagnosis of multiple foreign bodies in children with poor communication skills.http://pemj.org/upload/pdf/pemj-2019-00115.pdfforeign bodieshyponatremiaintestinal obstructionlaparoscopyseizures
spellingShingle Na Ra Lee
Hyun Beak Shin
Yeon Jun Jeong
Sun Jun Kim
Small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12-month-old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizure
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Journal
foreign bodies
hyponatremia
intestinal obstruction
laparoscopy
seizures
title Small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12-month-old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizure
title_full Small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12-month-old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizure
title_fullStr Small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12-month-old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizure
title_full_unstemmed Small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12-month-old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizure
title_short Small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12-month-old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizure
title_sort small bowel obstruction by water beads in a 12 month old girl presenting with acute hyponatremia with seizure
topic foreign bodies
hyponatremia
intestinal obstruction
laparoscopy
seizures
url http://pemj.org/upload/pdf/pemj-2019-00115.pdf
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