A Clinical Experience: Endoscopic and Surgical Management of Bezoars

Abstract

Objective:This study aims to evaluate the cases treated for gastrointestinal obstruction due to bezoar in terms of clinical-radiological-endoscopic features and treatment methods.Method:Among the patients treated for acute mechanical intestinal obstruction (AMIO) in our hospital between January 2014 and December 2019, 33 patients with bezoar-related AMIO were included in the study. The cases were examined in terms of the presence of comorbidity, tomography and endoscopy features, and treatment modalities.Results:A history of intraabdominal surgery was found in 82% of patients (n=27) and a history of upper gastrointestinal surgery in 60% (n=20). DM accompanied in 27% of the patients (n=9) and psychiatric disorder in 18% (n=6). With computered tomography, gastric dilatation was observed in 9 patients, jejunal in 9 patients, jejunoileal in 9 patients, and dilatation in all bowel segments in 6 patients. Endoscopy was performed in 12 patients; 9 had peptic ulcers, 3 were normal. Seventeen cases were treated with laparotomy, 9 cases with a laparoscopic enterotomy, and 3 cases with endoscopic procedures. 4 cases were treated with a Coca-Cola injection from a nasogastric catheter, which was successful.Conclusion:It is difficult to diagnose bezoar-related AMIO with clinical findings. Radiological and endoscopic methods are important in diagnosis. Although endoscopic methods are also used successfully for therapeutic purposes, surgical methods are used in distal locations and complicated cases.

Keywords

• acute mechanical intestinal obstruction
• bezoar
• endoscopy
• gastrointestinal surgery