Intestinal obstruction due to bezoars: a retrospective clinical study

A rare presentation of gastric phytobezoar: Simultaneous bleeding and perforation. combined laparoscopic and endoscopic approach. Report of a case

INTRODUCTION

Bezoars are intraluminal conglomerates of indigestible foreign materials that accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract. We describe our experience with a patient with gastric perforation and concomitant gastric haemorrhage with severe anaemia, in whom we successfully extracted a giant gastric phytobezoar by cooperative laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 68-year-old man was admitted with melena and septic shock. CT scan revealed a gastric perforation. We performed a combined laparoscopic and endoscopic approach with gastrotomy, removal of the phytobezoar and laparoscopic gastric suture. The suture was examined for leakage with the endoscopic hydropneumatic test to obtain direct vision of the suture and no evidence of leakage by insufflation of the area.

DISCUSSION

Gastric bezoars can be managed conservatively, endoscopically or surgically. Endoscopic removal, if effective, would be an attractive alternative for bezoar treatment. Usually endoscopic attempts are unsuccessful because of the large size of the bezoar and the difficulty in fragmentation. The laparoscopic approach for bezoar seems to have better postoperative outcomes. The main criticisms of the technique are abdominal spillage with risk of contamination as well as longer operative times.

CONCLUSION

In our case we simultaneously performed laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic operative procedure in accordance with the principles of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery to treat the gastric bezoar in order to overcome the limits of a single technique.

Evaluation of the location, number and diameter of bezoars in patients with a history of previous gastrointestinal surgery

OBJECTIVE

Bezoars are foreign bodies developed due to the swallowing of indigestible substances in the stomach that accumulate in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to compare the location, size, and diameter of bezoars between patients with and without a history of previous gastrointestinal surgery and between operated and non-operated patients retrospectively.

METHODS

A total of 188 patients who presented to our gastroenterology clinic and in whom bezoar was suspected on clinical examination and the diagnosis confirmed through abdominal CT scans were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups; patients with a history of previous gastrointestinal surgery were assigned to Group 1 (n = 70), and those who had no history of previous surgery (n = 118) to Group 2.

RESULTS

The mean age was found as 56.16 ± 15.75 years in Group 1 and 57.71 ± 15.95 years in Group 2. The mean bezoar width was significantly higher in Group 1 (p = 0.049). The mean bezoar length was significantly higher in Group 1 (p = 0.004). Considering localization of bezoars, the rate of patients who underwent enterotomy (80%) was statistically significantly higher than the patients who underwent gastrotomy (23.50%), gastrotomy + milking (28.60%) and milking (44.70%) in the operations performed in the jejunum.

CONCLUSION

Bezoars are a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. The median width and length of the bezoars were significantly higher in patients with a history of previous gastric surgery. There was no significant difference in other parameters. The most common localization was jejunum.

A rare case after Nissen fundoplication: Esophageal bezoar

A 33-year-old female patient was admitted to our clinic with complaints of nausea and vomiting for two days and the inability to tolerate food. The patient had a Nissen fundoplication three years ago. Computed tomography (CT) showed a bezoar image in the distal esophagus. The patient stated that the symptoms began after he ate a persimmon two days ago. The patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. A bezoar was observed in the distal esophagus at the esophagogastric junction. No pathology was observed in the stomach and duodenum. After the bezoar was shredded with a snare and removed with a retrieval snare. Here, we further describe this case of a bezoar that caused ileus in the distal esophagus after a fundoplication operation.

Impending perforation near ileocecal junction due to phytobezoar impaction and intraluminal polyp: a case report

Introduction

Bezoars and polyps are an uncommon cause of mechanical intestinal obstruction. There are four different kinds of bezoars: phytobezoars, made of vegetables and fibers; trichobezoars, resulting from the ingestion of hair and frequently an expression of psychiatric disorders; lactobezoars, which are formed of milk curd; and pharmacobezoars, caused by drugs and medications. Signs and symptoms classically vary from abdominal pain to constipation, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension. We present a rare case of impending perforation along with an intraluminal polyp near ileocecal junction due to phytobezoar impaction.

Case presentation

Our patient was a 59-year-old Sindhi female with a known history of interstitial lung disease and hypertension who presented to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain and constipation for 1 week, vomiting for 5 days, and abdominal distension for 2 days. After a preoperative examination and her failure to respond to conservative therapy, she was taken to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy. A hard intraluminal mass was suspected to be obstructing the small bowel at the site of impending perforation. This mass was a phytobezoar along with an intraluminal polyp. Resection of the affected segment was performed, followed by ileoileal anastomosis, and a drain was left. The patient was discharged 1 week later and was found to be well with no complaints at 3 weeks follow-up.

Conclusions

Early diagnosis of bezoars is important for early intervention and prevention of complications. Our case is unique as phytobezoar with intraluminal polyp is a rare clinical finding. Moreover, the signs and symptoms with which the patient presented are nonspecific and can be seen with multiple surgical emergencies.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes Among Patients With Gastrointestinal Phytobezoars: A Single-Institution Retrospective Cohort Study in Korea

Purpose: To describe our experience with phytobezoars, evaluate risk factors on treatment, and analyze whether previous gastric surgery affects treatment outcomes.

Methods: Medical records of 51 patients with phytobezoars between 2000 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. We compared endoscopic and surgical treatment groups and evaluated risk factors using multivariate logistic regression analysis. And we compared patients with and without previous gastric surgery in the surgical treatment group.

Results: The median patient age was 62.9 (range: 27–89) years. The endoscopic and surgical treatment groups included 26 (51%) and 25 (49%) patients, respectively. Patients aged ≥65 years, diabetes, and small intestinal phytobezoars were more frequent in the surgical treatment group. Previous gastric surgery (n = 16, 31.4%) was the most common predisposing risk factor, but without a significant difference between the groups. Enterotomy was performed for 20 patients (80%), segmental resection was performed for five patients (20%). Five patients (20%) had postoperative complications; there was one death. There were no significant differences in age, preoperative diagnosis, operation method, operative time, or postoperative stay between patients with and without previous gastric surgery, but postoperative complications were significantly more common in patients with previous gastric surgery.

Conclusions: Phytobezoar should be suspected early in patients with previous gastric surgery or a specific food intake history. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for avoiding surgical intervention and complications, especially in elderly patients. Surgery is required in most patients with small intestinal phytobezoars, safe removal can be achieved mainly via enterotomy.

Pathophysiological and clinical aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of bezoars

Bezoars are intraluminal conglomerates of indigestible foreign materials that accumulate in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They consist of vegetable or fruit fibers, hairs or other substances; accordingly, bezoars are classified as phytobezoars, trichobezoars, pharmacobezoars, etc. Although sometimes asymptomatic, bezoars may cause serious symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort or pain, dysphagia, hematemesis, or even life-threatening entities (GI bleeding, obstruction or perforation). Current technological applications have contributed to the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to these masses, mainly through endoscopic techniques able to diagnose, fragment and extract bezoars, as well as laparoscopic and other surgical modalities that may be used to treat serious complications. Although bezoars were described centuries ago and the term was officially introduced in the mid nineties by Quain, they are still a demanding pathological entity. Their pathophysiology, accurate and prompt diagnosis, as well as successful and minimally invasive treatment, remain under investigation and see continuous progress. Current advances in these challenging areas are discussed in this review, which attempts to present an in-depth study of bezoars along with the well-established modalities and techniques.

Afferent loop obstruction with obstructive jaundice and ileus due to an enterolith after distal gastrectomy: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Afferent loop obstruction is an uncommon complication associated with Billroth II reconstruction or Roux-en-Y reconstruction after gastrectomy. Moreover, cases where the obstruction is caused by enterolith are rare. Here, we report a rare case of afferent loop obstruction caused by an enterolith after Roux-en-Y reconstruction of gastrectomy; subsequently, leading to ileus in the ileum.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

An 84-year-old man who received a Roux-en-Y distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer presented with symptoms of fever and jaundice 14 months later. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an enterolith in the duodenal afferent loop and a dilated intrahepatic bile duct. Although the obstructive jaundice and fever disappeared with conservative therapy, ileus occurred due to the movement of the enterolith into the ileum, which was refractory to conservative therapy. Therefore, enterotomy was performed to remove the enterolith, and the patient had an uneventful recovery. Histologically, the enterolith derived from food residue. No postsurgical sign of recurrence has been noted for 6 months.

CONCLUSION

We report a rare case where an enterolith in a duodenal afferent loop after distal gastrectomy led to obstructive jaundice, and subsequently, caused ileus by its movement into the ileum.

Death of a Female Prostitute Due to Intestinal Obstruction by an Unknown Substance

A young adult black female, known to be a prostitute and suspected of smuggling narcotics, was found dead in her apartment in a state of early decomposition. Oval-shaped gray-white masses of exogenous origin protruded from the anus. The autopsy showed dilatation of the folds of the large intestine, which were almost completely filled with these oval-shaped gray-white masses of foreign material. The uterus was enlarged with multiple large leiomyomas. Toxicological tests of blood and the foreign material revealed no toxicologically relevant substances. Kaolin was detected in a sample of the foreign material from the large intestine. The immediate cause of death was intestinal obstruction due to the formation of a kaolin bezoar with simultaneous compression of the large intestine by the enlarged myomatous uterus. Subsequent revelation of a habit the deceased had brought from her native country led to the conclusion that this exotic custom was responsible for her death.

Primarily Proximal Jejunal Stone Causing Enterolith Ileus in a Patient without Evidence of Cholecystoenteric Fistula or Jejunal Diverticulosis

Stone formation within the intestinal lumen is called enterolith. This stone can encroach into the lumen causing obstruction and surgical emergency. Jejunal obstruction by an enterolith is a very rare entity and often missed preoperatively. To our knowledge, most cases of jejunal obstruction, secondary to stone, were associated with biliary disease (cholecystoenteric fistula), bezoar, jejunal diverticulosis, or foreign body. Hereby we present a rare case report of small bowel obstruction in an elderly man who was diagnosed lately to have primary proximal jejunal obstruction by an enterolith without evidence of a cholecystoenteric fistula or jejunal diverticulosis. This patient underwent laparotomy, enterotomy with stone extraction, and subsequent primary repair of the bowel.