{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,19]],"date-time":"2026-08-19T19:17:52Z","timestamp":1787167072576,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":7,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Case Rep"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,27]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>An infant presented repeatedly with features of transient bowel obstruction 72 hours after unwitnessed ingestion of water beads. At the third presentation 5\u2009days later, he underwent laparotomy and jejunal enterotomy for retrieval of obstructing water bead in the duodenum. Four other water beads were retrieved. Due to persistent obstructive symptoms, he had a relaparotomy on fourth postoperative day. A further obstructing bead at the duodenojejunal flexure was retrieved. Antegrade upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and retrograde endoscopy through the enterotomy were performed to ensure no further retained water beads. The patient progressed well postoperatively and was discharged home 5\u2009days later. This case highlights the challenges involved in the diagnosis and management of water bead ingestion in children. Children under 2\u2009years are at a higher risk of complications and most require intervention. Palpation alone can miss residual water beads at surgery. Endoscopy including intraoperative enteroscopy could be a useful adjunct.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bcr-2023-257875","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,28]],"date-time":"2024-02-28T02:10:17Z","timestamp":1709086217000},"page":"e257875","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Water beads ingestion presenting with repeated bowel obstruction in an infant"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Olugbenga","family":"Awolaran","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Paediatric Surgery, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kirsty","family":"Brennan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Paediatric Surgery, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Iain","family":"Yardley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Paediatric Surgery, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK"},{"name":"Paediatric Surgery, King's College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hemanshoo","family":"Thakkar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Paediatric Surgery, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK"},{"name":"Paediatric Surgery, King's College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025082710562353000_17.2.e257875.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.5694\/mja16.00936","article-title":"Dangerous toys: the expanding problem of water-absorbing beads","volume":"205","author":"Cairns","year":"2016","journal-title":"Med J Aust"},{"key":"2025082710562353000_17.2.e257875.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1097\/PEC.0000000000000520","article-title":"Two year old with water bead ingestion","volume":"31","author":"Jackson","year":"2015","journal-title":"Pediatr Emerg Care"},{"key":"2025082710562353000_17.2.e257875.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arcped.2017.12.004","article-title":"Bowel obstruction due to ingestion of a water-absorbing bead","volume":"25","author":"Fuger","year":"2018","journal-title":"Arch Pediatr"},{"key":"2025082710562353000_17.2.e257875.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"540","DOI":"10.1002\/jcu.22584","article-title":"Sonographic diagnosis of four water beads causing small-bowel obstruction in an 18-month-old boy","volume":"46","author":"Yang","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Clin Ultrasound"},{"key":"2025082710562353000_17.2.e257875.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wehl G , Weber K , Horling E-W , et al . 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