Barium impaction causing bowel obstruction in a neonate

Oral administration of barium sulfate can result in barium-induced intestinal obstruction. A term female newborn initially presented with a partial bowel obstruction. After completing an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series with barium contrast to evaluate the etiology of her intestinal obstruction, she subsequently developed a complete bowel obstruction. At exploratory laparotomy, she was discovered to have a partial obstruction of the distal ileum by a congenital band that was rendered complete by an impacted barium plug. To our knowledge, this is the first report in a neonate with complete bowel obstruction secondary to barium impaction and the implications of this complication and appropriate management are discussed.