Pediatr Emerg Med J.  2025 Apr;12(2):78-82. 10.22470/pemj.2025.01214.

Small-bowel bezoars in an infant following synbiotic ingestion: a novel case report

• Lee JY
• Kim SH

• KMID: 2567075
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22470/pemj.2025.01214

Abstract

Bezoars in infants are rare owing to their limited dietary diversity. This report presents a novel case of multiple phytobezoars in the small bowel of a 3-month-old boy following ingestion of a synbiotic, a nutritional supplement combining probiotics (bacteria) and prebiotics (fibers that promote bacterial growth), which required a surgical intervention. Given the increasing use of synbiotics, the possibility of such bezoar formation should be considered, particularly in infants with underlying risk factors, such as congenital aganglionic megacolon.

Keyword

Bezoars; Infant; Intestinal Obstruction; Prebiotics; Synbiotics

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Plain radiographs of the infant’s abdomen. An initial radiograph shows the diffuse dilatation of small bowel loops (A). A computed tomography scan shows the presence of 3 particulate feculent materials mingled with gas bubbles in the lumen of the dilated small bowel loops, indicating the bezoars (B, arrowheads).

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  Fig. 2. Intraoperative findings (day 2). Dilated small bowel loops (asterisks) are visualized (A). A bezoar (diameter, 4.1 cm) is demonstrated among the 3 extracted bezoars (B).

Reference

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