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Gastric phytobezoar: unusual association and resolution
J P Wyatt1, G Haddock, R J Aitken
1Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
Postgraduate Medical Journal
|August 1, 1993
Summary
A gastric phytobezoar was found in a patient with intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Enteral feeding successfully dissolved the bezoar, suggesting a potential new treatment for this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency.
- Intestinal pseudo-obstruction presents a diagnostic challenge, mimicking mechanical blockage.
- Gastric phytobezoars are indigestible masses of plant material.
Observation:
- A 58-year-old male presented with intestinal obstruction, later diagnosed as pseudo-obstruction.
- Postoperatively, a gastric phytobezoar was identified as a contributing factor.
- The patient experienced a prolonged recovery period.
Findings:
- The gastric phytobezoar was resistant to mechanical fragmentation.
- Initiation of enteral feeding led to the complete resolution of the phytobezoar.
- This case highlights a novel association between bezoars and pseudo-obstruction.
Implications:
- Enteral feeding may represent a non-invasive therapeutic option for gastric phytobezoars, particularly in patients with pseudo-obstruction.
- Further research is warranted to explore the efficacy and mechanisms of enteral feeding in resolving bezoars.
- This finding could alter clinical management strategies for patients with complex gastrointestinal issues.