Surgical treatment of phytobezoars causes acute small intestinal obstruction.

Abstract

Phytobezoars should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute small intestinal obstruction in patients with prior gastric surgery, poor dentition, or consume fiber-rich foods. Abdominal CT is useful for both diagnosis and for the decision to perform emergency surgery. When possible, the phytobezoar should be fragmented and milked into the cecum. Laparoscopic fragmentation may be useful in such cases (Tab. 3, Ref. 28). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.