Rare small bowel obstruction due to phytobezoar – Case presentation

Abstract

Phytobezoar is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction. This pathology represents 0.4%-4% of all mechanical bowel obstructions. Symptoms are similar to other small bowel obstructions. The most common localisation of the obstruction is represented by the terminal ileum. Phytobezoars are to be considered in patients who have had gastric surgery, a high fiber intake or psychiatric disorders. Also, multiple sclerosis has shown to affect bowel motility, which is important to our case. Surgery is always indicated. A low fiber diet and prokinetics are indicated for the prevention of this pathology. We present the case of a 43-year-old female who was admitted to the ICU following a car accident. The patient presented bowel obstruction symptoms (nausea and vomiting, bloating, not passing gas and severe abdominal pain) the 5th day after admission and was transferred to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperatively, we discovered a phytobezoar which was confirmed by the histopathological exam.

Keywords

• phytobezoar
• rare small bowel obstruction
• trauma patient
• multiple sclerosis