[Conservative treatment of phytobezoars of the stomach with cellulase]

In a female patient anaemia due to chronic blood loss occurred after gastrectomy and subsequent vagotomy. Gastroscopy showed a phytobezoar to be the cause. In a second patient who had not had gastric surgery a phytobezoar was found as well as a prepyloric ulcer during investigations for upper abdominal symptoms. In both cases the phytobezoars could be removed completely within a short time after dissolution by an oral cellulase containing enzyme preparation and gastroscopic breaking-up.