Upper Gastrointestinal Manifestation of Bezoars and the Etiological Factors: A Literature Review. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2019;2019:5698532. [PMID: 31396274 PMCID: PMC6664490 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5698532]

Endoscopic lithotripsy combined with drug lithotripsy vs. drug lithotripsy for the treatment of phytobezoars: analysis of 165 cases

AIM

To analyze efficacy of endoscopic lithotripsy combined with drug lithotripsy as compared with drug lithotripsy for the treatment of phytobezoars.

METHODS

We collected and evaluated case records of 165 patients with phytobezoars from 2014 to 2023. And we analyzed demographic and clinical characteristics, imaging features, endoscopic features, complications of phytobezoars, and compared efficacy between endoscopic lithotripsy combined with drug lithotripsy (Group A) and drug lithotripsy (sodium bicarbonate combined with proton pump inhibitor) (Group B).

RESULTS

The median age of patients with phytobezoars was 67.84 ± 4.286 years old. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom and peptic ulcers (67.5%) were the most common complication. Bezoar-induced ulcers were more frequent in the gastric angle. The success rate of phytobezoars vanishing in Group A and Group B were similar (92.3% vs. 85.1% within 48 h, 98.7% vs. 97.7% within a week), while the average hospitalization period, average hospitalization cost, second endoscopy rate, and average endoscopic operation time were significantly lower in patients in Group B than in Group A.

CONCLUSION

Drug lithotripsy is the preferred effective and safe treatment option for phytobezoars. We advise that an endoscopy should be completed after 48 h for drug lithotripsy.

All Tangled Up: Meter-Long Gastric Trichobezoar Causing Multiple Intussuscepting Points in an Adult

Gastric trichobezoars are a result of trichophagia secondary to trichotillomania, and can result in severe complications such as perforation or intussusception. We present the case of a 19-year-old female with multiple points of intussusception secondary to a large gastric/small intestine trichobezoar and describe our approach to diagnosis and eventual removal of the bezoar.

Rectal Bezoar: A Rare Cause of Intestinal Obstruction

Bezoars are conglomerates of undigested contents that accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract. They can have different compositions, such as fibers, seeds, vegetables (phytobezoars), hair (trichobezoars), and medication (pharmacobezoars). Bezoars are typically caused by an impaired grinding mechanism of the stomach or interdigestive migrating motor complex, but the composition of ingested material can also play a role in their formation. Gastric dysmotility, previous gastric surgery, and gastroparesis are some of the risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing bezoars. While bezoars are usually asymptomatic and found in the stomach, they can sometimes migrate to the small intestine or colon and cause complications such as intestinal obstruction or perforation. Endoscopy is essential for diagnosis and etiology, and treatment depends on the composition, which can include chemical dissolution or surgical intervention. We present a case of an 86-year-old woman, who had a bezoar located in an unusual location (rectum), most likely due to migration. This condition led to symptoms of intermittent intestinal obstruction and rectal bleeding. However, due to anal stenosis, the patient was unable to expel the bezoar. Its removal was not possible through various endoscopic techniques. Therefore, it was removed via fragmentation, using an anoscope and forceps, due to its hard/stone-like consistency. This case highlights the importance of considering bezoars in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding and illustrates the importance of prompt diagnosis and appropriate techniques for the removal of bezoars.

Acute Case of Trichobezoar Diagnosed From Computed Tomography and 3D Images: Rapunzel Syndrome Re-examined

A trichobezoar is a rare cause of abdominal pain due to an indigestible mass in the gastrointestinal tract that is composed of a patient's hair. If a trichobezoar grows and extends from the gastric body to the pylorus and into the small bowel, it is considered Rapunzel syndrome. We present a case of an 11-year-old female patient with Rapunzel syndrome who presented with four weeks of colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, and severe malnutrition. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with 3D rendering demonstrated a large bezoar, and the patient was successfully treated with exploratory laparotomy, gastrostomy, and removal of the trichobezoar intact.

Meal Eating Characteristics of Patients with Gastroparesis

BACKGROUND

Patients with gastroparesis often consume only small meals due to early satiety.

AIMS

(1) Describe meal eating characteristics of patients with gastroparesis; (2) Relate meal eating characteristics to symptoms, gastric emptying (GE), and body weight.

METHODS

Patients with gastroparesis filled out questionnaires including Patient Assessment of Upper GI Symptoms (PAGI-SYM), and questionnaire about meal habits and body weight. Patients underwent gastric emptying scintigraphy.

RESULTS

Of 192 gastroparesis patients, 93% endorsed early satiety (ES) with severity of 3.7 ± 1.5 (scored from 0-5) and 93% endorsed postprandial fullness (PPF) with severity of 3.9 ± 1.3. Time spent consuming meals averaged 13.6 ± 17.7 min. Main reasons patients stopped eating were fullness (61%), nausea (48%), and abdominal pain (31%). Time spent eating correlated inversely with severity of nausea (r = -0.18, p < 0.05), stomach fullness (r = -0.21, p < 0.01), PPF (r = -0.23, p < 0.01), loss of appetite (r = -0.34, p < 0.01). Postprandial fullness lasted for 316 ± 344 min. Duration of PPF correlated with nausea (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), retching (r = 0.29, p < 0.01), vomiting (r = 0.28, p < 0.01), stomach fullness (r = 0.33, p < 0.01), loss of appetite (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), and constipation (r = 0.27, p < 0.01). Underweight patients had increased inability to finish a normal size meal (p < 0.01), loss of appetite (p < 0.01), and lower abdominal pain/discomfort (p < 0.05). Patients had lost 3.06 ± 10.60 kgs from their baseline weight. Weight loss correlated with nausea (r = 0.26, p < 0.01), ES (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), loss of appetite (r = 0.28, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Early satiety and postprandial fullness were common with high severity. The main reasons for meal cessation were early satiety, nausea, and abdominal pain. Body weight and change in body weight were associated with symptoms of gastroparesis.

Acute Cholecystitis Masking a Gastric Bezoar

A bezoar is a solid mass of indigestible material that usually forms in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Gastric bezoars, located in the stomach, can present variably. They can be asymptomatic or present with GI symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or more serious complications, such as GI obstruction or perforation. Diagnostic modalities are mainly radiological, and treatment may either be conservative or interventional. Herein, we disclose the case of a 47-year-old female who presented with a two-week history of abdominal pain with an incidental finding of a possible gastric phytobezoar, co-existing with gallbladder disease. Although not previously reported, this study highlights the possibility of an association between gallbladder disease and the formation of a bezoar.

Gastric Bezoar: Cause of Weight Loss in a Patient With Previous Bariatric Surgery

Gastric bezoar is a concretion of undigested material found in the stomach and is classified by its composition. Patients may remain asymptomatic or present with a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is required to establish the diagnosis. Treatment options include chemical dissolution, endoscopic removal, or surgical removal. Here, we present a rare case of gastric bezoar in a patient with a remote history of bariatric surgery presenting with acute weight loss.

A rare giant gastric trichobezoar in a young female patient: Case report and review of the literature

A bezoar is an aggregate of undigested foreign materials that accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and may cause serious symptoms or even life-threatening complications. Trichobezoars, a subtype of bezoars, are a rare condition usually occurring in females with psychiatric disorders, with Rapunzel syndrome being an uncommon form of trichobezoar.

The differential for chest pain: when the most common cause is not the answer-a case of de novo esophageal bezoar

Background

Having a broad differential and knowing how to manage the different possibilities in a patient with chest pain is important. Esophageal bezoars are rare entities and are even less common in patients without any recent hospitalizations, known achalasia, or nasogastric tubes. Despite their rarity, having it in one’s differential, and knowing how to manage it is important.

Case presentation

This case presents a patient with mega-esophagus secondary to an esophageal bezoar; and runs through the gamut of morbid chest pathophysiology, its differential, work-up, and management. The case is interesting in that the patient’s initial presentation brings to mind a bevy of feared chest issues to include myocardial infarction, dissection, pulmonary embolus, achalasia, and perforation.

Conclusion

This clinical case highlights more than just the rare diagnosis of esophageal bezoar. It also goes through initial resuscitation, key concerns, “can’t miss diagnoses”, and finally discusses the feared end state of an esophageal perforation.

Intestinal Obstruction Secondary to Multiple Gastrointestinal phytobezoars, A Rare presentation

Introduction

Intestinal obstruction considered to be one of the most common surgical presentation. Adhesions secondary to previous operations, hernias, neoplasms, inflammatory bowel disease, intussusception, or volvulus are the usual causes of intestinal obstruction but bezoar can presents in 0.4-4%. Bezoar can be trapped in different locations throughout the gastrointestinal tract and it can be solitary or multiple lesions.

Case presentation

This is a 37-year-old male, known case of diabetes mellitus, Presented to the Emergency Department complaining of generalized abdominal pain for 2 days duration. Associated with abdominal distention, fever, nausea, vomiting and obstipation. There was a history of persimmon intake. Unremarkable past surgical history. On examination, He was tachycardic, other vital signs were within normal. Abdominal examination showed abdominal distention and Sluggish bowel sound. Abdominal X-ray revealed multiple air-fluid levels. An abdominal CT scan with IV contrast revealed an intra-luminal mass in the ileum and intra-gastric mass with suspicious of bezoars. He underwent exploratory laparotomy, gastrostomy to remove intra-gastric bezoar, and enterotomy to remove the ileal bezoar.

Clinical discussion

Intestinal obstruction is considered to be the most common complication of this entity; other possible complications include gastric ulcer, gastritis, and gastric perforation. Due to limitations of endoscopy and barium enema in the diagnosis of bezoar, Abdominal CT-scan is considered to be the gold standard in the diagnosis. The management of phytobezoar can be either conservative or surgical, depends on the lesion size and location.

Conclusion

Although intestinal obstruction secondary to bezoar is rare, multiple levels of gastrointestinal obstruction should raise the suspicion of bezoar.

•

Bezoar can be trapped in different locations throughout the gastrointestinal tract and it can be solitary or multiple lesions.

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The predisposing risk factors for bezoar formation include previous gastric surgery, gastroparesis, peptic ulcer disease, or psychiatric illness.

•

Abdominal CT-scan considered the gold standard in the diagnosis for bezoar.

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The management of phytobezoar can either be conservative or surgical depends on the lesion size and location.

Risk factors, endoscopic findings, and treatments in upper gastrointestinal bezoars: multi-center experience in Iran

AIM

The current study aimed to investigate the risk factors, endoscopic findings, and treatments of upper gastrointestinal bezoars.

BACKGROUND

Bezoars are compact masses formed by the accumulation of dietary fiber, undigested food, hair, or medications. The majority of bezoars are asymptomatic, but they may cause serious symptoms or even life-threatening events such as bleeding, obstruction, or perforation.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted in three gastroenterology clinics between January 2016 and December 2019. Bezoars were detected in 109 of 15,830 endoscopy records (0.68%).

RESULTS

A total of 103 patients (52.4% male) were enrolled in this study. Mean patient age was 60.5±11.3 years. The most frequent risk factors were history of gastric surgery (25.2%), diabetes mellitus (21.3%), hypothyroidism (15.5%), trichophagia (5.8%), and anxiety disorders (2.9%), respectively. The most common endoscopic findings were peptic ulcers (34.9%), erosive gastritis/duodenitis (12.6%), and reflux esophagitis (10.6%). While bezoars were most commonly observed in the stomach (84.4%), the majority of them were phytobezoars (92.2%). The mean number of endoscopic interventions for each patient was 1.5 (range, 1-4). Endoscopy was successful in removing bezoars in 85.4%.

CONCLUSION

The synergistic effect of multiple factors for a long time, such as gastrointestinal surgery, diabetes mellitus or psychiatric disorders, may lead to bezoar formation. These risk factors should be avoided or treated in order to prevent bezoar formation and subsequent life-threatening complications.

Small bowel obstruction caused by a bezoar following an adult simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation: A case report

BACKGROUND

Small bowel obstructions (SBOs) are common following a large intra-abdominal operation; however, SBOs caused by bezoars are unreported in patients following liver-kidney transplantation procedures, particularly in adults.

CASE SUMMARY

A 65-year-old Caucasian female presented with nausea and nonbilious emesis during her postoperative course following a simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation. She developed worsening nausea and vomiting with significant abdominal distension and obstipation. Computed tomography imaging showed a marked abnormal dilation of multiple small bowel loops with a distinct transition point that was suggestive of a small bowel obstruction. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a foreign body in the intestinal track approximately 30 cm from the ileocecal valve. The foreign body was extracted and identified as a bezoar with hair follicles and old digestive contents. Following the operation, the patient demonstrated rapid clinical improvement with resolution of nausea, emesis, and progress in bowel motility.

CONCLUSION

SBOs caused by bezoars can occur immediately following a liver-kidney transplantation and should not be discounted as a diagnosis.

Giant gastric bezoar removal from the stomach using combined dual knife-electric snare treatment: a case report

Gastric bezoars are foreign bodies that occur when certain drugs or foods aggregate in the stomach. They cannot be digested and most are unable to pass through the pylorus. Here, we describe a giant hard gastric bezoar that was removed by using combined dual knife–electric snare treatment. This strategy has rarely been reported and can eliminate the need for surgery. The patient exhibited a giant hard gastric bezoar and reported a habit of eating persimmons. A giant persimmon bezoar was treated using a combined dual knife–electric snare approach, without any complications. Follow-up endoscopy revealed that the bezoar had been successfully removed. This report also provides a summary of the diagnostic and therapeutic courses of gastric bezoars.