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Small bowel obstruction secondary to crab shell bezoar: A case report
1University of Malaya Medical Centre, Department of Surgery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. laiwickchamp@gmail.com.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|March 26, 2022
Summary
Small bowel obstruction can rarely be caused by bezoars. This case highlights a unique instance of a crab shell bezoar, emphasizing the need to avoid ingesting large intact shells.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Small bowel obstruction is a frequent surgical emergency.
- Bezoars, rare causes of obstruction, account for 4.5% of cases.
- Common bezoar types include phytobezoars, trichobezoars, pharmacobezoars, and lactobezoars.
Observation:
- This report details a rare case of small bowel obstruction.
- The obstruction was caused by a crab shell bezoar in an elderly female patient.
- This represents the first documented case of a crab shell bezoar.
Findings:
- Crab shell bezoars are an unusual etiology of small bowel obstruction.
- Ingesting large, intact crab shells poses a risk for gastrointestinal obstruction.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering unusual bezoar compositions in diagnosing bowel obstruction.
- Advises caution regarding the consumption of large, intact crab shells to prevent potential surgical emergencies.
