[A case report of food-induced ileus requiring two emergency laparotomies in one year]

A 58-year-old woman completely edentulous man was transported to our hospital by ambulance with complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple objects in the dilated ileum. An emergency laparotomy was performed and a diagnosis of ileus caused by ingestion of lotus root was established. We advised the patient to obtain and wear dentures. However, she did not comply and continued to swallow food without chewing. After 11 months, she was readmitted with the same symptoms. A second emergency laparotomy also revealed food-induced ileus. No recurrence of food-induced ileus has occurred after the patient agreed to wearing dentures. When encountering patients presenting with ileus, the patient's diet and eating habits should be verified, and the condition of the teeth at the time of diagnosis should be evaluated. Encouragement of patients to improve eating habits, along with adequate dental care, sufficiently prevents food-induced ileus.