Vinyl glove ingestion in children: a word of caution

Abstract Background Vinyl gloves when ingested will harden and develop sharp edges producing gastric bezoars; bowel obstruction; and, ultimately, perforation. We report 4 children with complications secondary to vinyl glove ingestion who required surgical intervention. Methods A 3-year-old boy, a 13...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pediatric surgery 2012-05, Vol.47 (5), p.996-998
Main Authors: Stringel, Gustavo, Parker, Michael, McCoy, Erin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Bezoar
Bezoars - complications
Bezoars - diagnosis
Bezoars - surgery
Child, Preschool
Female
Gloves, Protective
Humans
Intellectual Disability - complications
Intestinal Obstruction - etiology
Intestinal Obstruction - surgery
Intestinal perforation
Intestinal Perforation - etiology
Intestinal Perforation - surgery
Intestine, Small - surgery
Laparoscopy
Laparotomy
Male
Pediatrics
Pica - complications
Small bowel obstruction
Stomach - surgery
Surgery
Vinyl gloves
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Summary:Abstract Background Vinyl gloves when ingested will harden and develop sharp edges producing gastric bezoars; bowel obstruction; and, ultimately, perforation. We report 4 children with complications secondary to vinyl glove ingestion who required surgical intervention. Methods A 3-year-old boy, a 13-year-old adolescent girl with Down syndrome, a 14-year-old adolescent girl, and a 15-year-old adolescent boy presented with bowel obstruction secondary to a bezoar caused by a vinyl glove. The adolescent girl with Down syndrome presented again at age 17 years with a large vinyl glove gastric bezoar. Three of the children had mental retardation, and 1 was a victim of child abuse. Three had laparoscopic-assisted removal of the vinyl glove bezoar, and 1 had laparotomy. Results The 4 children recovered uneventfully. Two of the patients had unsuspected intestinal perforation. The caretakers denied awareness of the vinyl glove ingestion. Conclusions Vinyl glove ingestion can cause intestinal obstruction and perforation. Vinyl gloves should be removed from the immediate proximity of mentally retarded patients or patients with pica. Most of the time, the finding of vinyl gloves as etiology of the obstruction or perforation is incidental. If the event is known or witnessed, prompt surgical intervention is generally recommended.
ISSN:0022-3468
1531-5037
DOI:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2012.01.061