Postgastrectomy phytobezoars--endoscopic diagnosis and treatment.
Thirty-three consecutive patients with 38 bezoars were identified since 1975. Twenty-nine patients (87.8%) had undergone previous gastric surgery. The average interval between surgery and bezoar diagnosis was 7.7 years. There were 14 men and 19 women (mean age, 61.5 years). Epigastric distress (84%) and weight loss (31%) were the most common complaints. Twenty-two (75.9%) of 29 barium studies were falsely negative. Attempts at prior enzymatic dissolution had failed in three patients. Three (13.6%) of 22 patients available for follow-up had multiple episodes of bezoar formation. All patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for diagnosis and concomitant fragmentation and "flushing" of the bezoar for resolution. The success rate was 100%; no complications occurred.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001630:Bezoars / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004384:Duodenoscopy; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged