Small bowel obstruction secondary to a plastic bezoar

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Case Reports

Background:

• Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common surgical emergency.
• Bezoars, particularly plastic bezoars, are rare causes of SBO.

Observation:

• A young adult male with autism and intellectual disability presented with symptoms suggestive of SBO.
• Initial computed tomography (CT) scans showed subtle signs of obstruction.
• Despite conservative management with gastrografin, clinical suspicion for SBO persisted.

Findings:

• Operative management was performed due to persistent clinical suspicion.
• A rare plastic bezoar was identified as the cause of the small bowel obstruction.
• This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with plastic bezoars.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering rare etiologies like plastic bezoars in patients with SBO, especially those with developmental disabilities.
• Early surgical intervention may be crucial when clinical suspicion for SBO remains high despite non-invasive imaging.
• Further research into the prevalence and management of plastic bezoars is warranted.