Colonic Bezoar from Matches as Extremely Rare Cause of a Large Bowel Obstruction

Alina WarmuziaSka,MaaGorzata SobieszczaaSka,Iwona Tubek,SaAwomir Tubek,Piotr Grzanka

doi:10.21767/2471-8041.100106

Abstract

A bezoar is a gastrointestinal mass developed via the accumulation and hardening of undigested or partially digested materials within the digestive tract. While often seen in the stomach, bezoars are rarely observed in the colon. Although many studies have reported that wholegrain foods have a positive effect on intestinal functions because of their high fiber content, a very limited number of case presentations have reported that excessive intake can cause intestinal obstruction.

Highlights

Bezoars are masses formed by the concretion of stomach contents or debris within the gastrointestinal tract and are classified based primarily on their content
Bezoars are rare and account for only 0.4–4% of all cases of gastrointestinal obstruction and mainly occur in the stomach. This is a case of a 45-year old woman with recurrent large bowel obstruction caused by biting and swallowing matches is presented
Year 2009: A 38-year old women without medical history was admitted to the internal ward due pain in abdomen and rectum, and diarrhea with trace of blood

Summary

Introduction

Bezoars are masses formed by the concretion of stomach contents or debris within the gastrointestinal tract and are classified based primarily on their content. There are four major types of bezoars. Phytobezoars are the most common type of bezoars and comprise of undigested vegetable material with large amounts of non-digestible fibres such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and fruit tannins. Trichobezoars consist of gastric concretions of hair fibres and are usually found in patients with a history of psychiatric illnesses and in children with intellectual disabilities. Pharmacobezoars consist of medications such as cholestyramine, kayexalate resin, cavafate and antacids, which in bulk will agglutinate. Lactobezoars are milk curds that form secondary to infant formula. Bezoars are rare and account for only 0.4–4% of all cases of gastrointestinal obstruction and mainly occur in the stomach

Case Study

Discussion and Conclusion