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Small intestinal obstruction due to phytobezoar: a case report.
Rajan Fuad Ezzat1, Shahzad Ali Rashid, Abbas Tahir Rashid
1Department of Surgery, Sulaimanyah Teaching Hospital, Sulaimanyah, Iraq.
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|January 12, 2010
Summary
A rare case of small intestinal obstruction caused by an eggplant phytobezoar in a 70-year-old man is presented. This unusual case highlights the importance of considering bezoars in patients with obstructive symptoms, even without prior gastrointestinal history.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Mechanical small-bowel obstruction presents with abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation.
- Causes include benign/malignant and extra-/intraluminal factors.
- Bezoars, particularly phytobezoars, are rare causes of small bowel obstruction, often linked to impaired motility or abnormal food habits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report an unusual case of small intestinal obstruction caused by an eggplant phytobezoar.
- To highlight a rare etiology of bowel obstruction in a patient without typical risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A case study of a 70-year-old man presenting with symptoms of small intestinal obstruction.
- Diagnostic investigations confirmed obstruction, leading to laparotomy.
- Surgical intervention revealed an eggplant phytobezoar as the cause.
Main Results:
- The patient experienced abdominal pain, vomiting, and dehydration, indicative of small intestinal obstruction.
- Laparotomy identified an eggplant phytobezoar as the obstructive agent.
- The patient had no prior history of gastric surgery or intestinal pathology.
Conclusions:
- Phytobezoars can cause small intestinal obstruction even in the absence of typical predisposing factors.
- While some bezoars are amenable to endoscopic removal, others necessitate surgical intervention.
- Preventing recurrence is crucial after bezoar management.
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