An Unusual Case of Small Bowel Obstruction

Abstract

Small bowel obstruction is a general surgical emergency usually caused by adhesions or herniae. Malignancy, inflammatory bowel disease and ingested foreign bodies (bezoars) are rarer causes. Bezoars can occur at any point in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) depending on the type of bezoar and the point of impaction. Abdominal CT scan can assist in making an accurate and timely diagnosis of bezoar-induced small bowel obstruction. Bezoar-induced acute bowel obstruction requires either endoscopic or surgical extraction to avoid the complications of hemorrhage, perforation or fistula formation.




J Med Cases. 2015;6(11):517-519
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2343w