Small bowel obstruction from potato and broccoli phytobezoar mimicking mesenteric ischemia

Bezoars are concretions of undigested foreign material that form in the gastrointestinal tract. Rare in humans, they are nonetheless a well-documented cause of intraluminal bowel obstruction.

The objectives of this case report include describing an unusual presentation of small bowel obstruction due to phytobezoar, which mimicked mesenteric ischemia, and highlighting the risk factors, presentation, and management of bezoars, in addition to covering historical beliefs regarding bezoars.

Here we report a 64-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department with chest pain, vomiting, and hypotension. Initial work-up was directed at ruling out cardiac causes and aortic catastrophe such as aortic dissection or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Computed tomography angiography of the chest and abdomen showed findings suggestive of mesenteric ischemia and small bowel obstruction. However, exploratory laparotomy revealed intraluminal small bowel obstruction from a phytobezoar consisting of undigested chunks of potato, brussels sprouts, and broccoli.

Although rare in humans, bezoars are a documented cause of small bowel obstruction, and should be considered when intraluminal bowel obstruction occurs. Bezoars causing small bowel obstruction require surgical treatment.