Orbeez ingestion can mimic duplication cysts as a cause of pediatric small bowel obstruction

Water Beads—Exploratory Learning or Exploratory Laparotomy?

“…She had findings consistent with duplication cyst on both ultrasound and CT imaging; however, it was upon exploratory laparotomy that two super-absorbent polymer toys known as Orbeez were identified. 3 With an increase in incidence of water bead ingestion, 4 more and more cases of these water beads causing bowel obstructions are being reported in the literature. Notably, these toys carry no warning of the possible obstruction they can cause, only the usual choking hazard associated with all small toys.…”