An unusual cause of small bowel obstruction: dried apricots

Small bowel obstruction is rarely caused by bezoars. An important cause of phytobezoars are dried fruits. A 56 year old man presented to our department with symptoms of acute intestinal obstruction. Abdomen was distended and tender at the right and left lower quadrants. Bowel movements were decrease...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 2011-11, Vol.61 (11), p.1130-1131
Main Authors: GÜMÜS, Metehan, KAPAN, Murat, ÖNDER, Akin, TEKBAS, Güven, YAGMUR, Yusuf
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdominal Pain - etiology
Anastomosis, Surgical
Bezoar
Bezoars - diagnostic imaging
Bezoars - surgery
Biological and medical sciences
Care and treatment
Diagnosis
Dried fruit
Fruit
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
General aspects
Health aspects
Humans
Intestinal Obstruction - diagnostic imaging
Intestinal Obstruction - etiology
Intestinal Obstruction - surgery
Intestine, Small - diagnostic imaging
Intestines
Intussusception - etiology
Intussusception - surgery
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Obstructions
Other diseases. Semiology
Prunus - adverse effects
Radiography, Abdominal
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
Treatment Outcome
Ultrasonography, Interventional
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Summary:Small bowel obstruction is rarely caused by bezoars. An important cause of phytobezoars are dried fruits. A 56 year old man presented to our department with symptoms of acute intestinal obstruction. Abdomen was distended and tender at the right and left lower quadrants. Bowel movements were decreased, and rectum was empty on digital examination. Upright plain films of the abdomen revealed multiple air-fluid levels and patient was immediately operated on. Due to the ischaemia of short small bowel segment, resection and end to end anastomosis were performed. After resection, bowel was opened and an apricot was found in the small bowel lumen. Although the dried apricot was small enough to pass through the pylorus spontaneously, it became swollen in fluid and started to obstruct the small bowel lumen especially in the terminal ileum. Obstruction by undigested food is rare and mostly seen in children, edentulous older people and patients with mental disorders. In conclusion, dried fruits, when swallowed without chewing, may cause intestinal obstruction.
ISSN:0030-9982