Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40304754›Full record

ArticlePediatric surgery international2025

Hypertonic liquids: a potential method for reducing super absorbent polymer bead associated bowel obstructions in children.

Brian C Gulack, Jacky Kwong, Gwyneth Sullivan, Ethan Ritz, Anil A Kesavan, Ami N Shah

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Article in Pediatric surgery international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Brian C GulackDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 West Harrison Street, Professional Building Suite 710, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. brian_gulack@rush.edu.
Jacky KwongDepartment of General Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1653 W. Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
Gwyneth SullivanDepartment of General Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1653 W. Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
Ethan RitzRush University Medical Center, Biostatistics Core, 600 S Paulina St, Chicago, IL, 60622, USA.
Anil A KesavanSection of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 West Harrison Street, Suite 710, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
Ami N ShahDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 West Harrison Street, Professional Building Suite 710, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeSuper absorbent polymer (SAP) beads grow in the presence of liquids, leading to a risk of small bowel obstruction (SBO) following ingestion, but there is little data to guide management in children following SAP bead ingestion. We hypothesize that certain hypertonic liquids could limit the growth of the beads and shrink them, potentially serving as a treatment to prevent SBO.

methodsSpecific hypertonic liquids were identified a priori to be studied including 100% fruit juices, mineral oil, 50% and 100% Gastrografin, Pedialyte, Cola, polyethylene glycol, and Milk of Magnesia. Simulated intestinal fluid was used as a control. SAP bead growth and shrinkage (after 24 h of pre-hydration) were compared using linear regression with log transformation.

resultsMineral oil, Gastrografin, and 100% fruit juices were found to be the most effective at preventing bead growth as compared to intestinal fluid for both small and large beads (p < 0.001). 100% fruit juices were found to be the most effective at shrinking pre-hydrated beads (p < 0.001).

conclusionGastrografin and 100% fruit juices have the potential to limit the growth of and shrink SAP beads following ingestion. Protocols using these liquids following SAP bead ingestion may be beneficial in preventing SBO-related surgery.

Indexed as

Intestinal ObstructionPolymersChildChild, PreschoolDiatrizoate MeglumineHumansIntestine, SmallMineral OilPolyethylene GlycolsDiatrizoate MeglumineMineral OilPolyethylene GlycolsPolymersForeign body ingestionHypertonic fluidsSuper absorbent polymer beadsTreatment algorithm

Identifiers

PMID40304754

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.