Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2005; 11(12): 1813-1817
Published online Mar 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i12.1813
Gastrointestinal bezoars: A retrospective analysis of 34 cases
Kenan Erzurumlu, Zafer Malazgirt, Ahmet Bektas, Adem Dervisoglu, Cafer Polat, Gokhan Senyurek, Ibrahim Yetim, Kayhan Ozkan
Kenan Erzurumlu, Zafer Malazgirt, Ahmet Bektas, Adem Dervisoglu, Cafer Polat, Gokhan Senyurek, Ibrahim Yetim, Kayhan Ozkan, Department of Surgery, and Gastroenterology Division of Medical Department Medical Faculty, Ondokuzmayis University, Samsun, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Kenan Erzurumlu, M.D., Professor, Department of Surgery, Medical School, Ondokuzmayis University, 55139, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey. kerzurum@omu.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-362-4576000-2470 Fax: +90-362-4576029
Received: April 10, 2004
Revised: April 11, 2004
Accepted: May 25, 2004
Published online: March 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: Bezoars (BZ) are the most common foreign bodies of gastrointestinal tract. Clinical manifestations vary depending on the location of BZ from no symptoms to acute abdominal syndrome. When located in small bowel, they frequently cause small bowel obstruction (SBO). We aimed to present our experience by reviewing literature.

METHODS: Thirty-four patients with gastrointestinal BZ were presented. The data were collected from hospital records and analyzed retrospectively. Morbidity and mortality rates were statistically analyzed between the subgroups according to SBO and endoscopic or surgical treatment modalities.

RESULTS: The 34 patients had phytobezoars (PBZ). Two patients with mental retardation and trichotillomania had trichobezoars (TBZ). More than half of them (55.88%) had previous gastric surgery. Also most of them had small bowel bezoars resulting in obstruction. Surgical and endoscopic morbidity rates were 32.14% and 14.28% respectively. The total morbidity rate of this study was 29.41%. Four patients in surgically treated group died. There was no death in endoscopically treated group. The total and surgical mortality rates were 11.76% and 14.28% respectively. The differences in morbidity and mortality rates between the subgroups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: BZ are commonly seen in stomach and small intestine. SBO is the most common complication. When uncomplicated, endoscopic or surgical removal can be applied easily.

Keywords: Bezoars; Phytobezoar; Trichobezoar