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Published on: April 26, 2019

Secretory diarrhea owing to a tape bezoar in a child with Hirschsprung's disease

Michael J Nowicki1, Richard C Miller

  • 1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|November 14, 2003
PubMed

Insights

A rare intestinal bezoar made of surgical tape caused secretory diarrhea in a child. This case highlights unusual causes and presentations of pediatric bezoars.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Bezoars are indigestible masses that can form in the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Intestinal bezoars are uncommon, particularly in children, and can arise from various materials.

Observation:

  • A case report details a young boy experiencing secretory diarrhea.
  • The patient was found to have an ileal bezoar composed entirely of surgical adhesive tape.

Findings:

  • The surgical adhesive tape formed a bezoar obstructing the ileum.
  • This unusual composition led to significant gastrointestinal symptoms, specifically secretory diarrhea.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known spectrum of materials causing intestinal bezoars in pediatric populations.
  • It underscores the importance of considering non-traditional etiologies in diagnosing pediatric intestinal obstructions and diarrhea.

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