title: Laparosopic removal of large gastric phytobezoars.
abstract: Large gastric bezoars are difficult to remove endoscopically. A 78-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain and loss of appetite for 4 months was admitted and evaluated. Gastroscopy disclosed two large phytobezoars within the stomach. Laparoscopic removal was undertaken. The bezoars were removed via a gastrotomy using the three-trocar technique. They were successfully retrieved from the abdominal cavity using an improvised "endobag" made from a simple surgical glove. Such an endobag presents several advantages; they are easy to make, sterile, economical, readily available, disposable, there is ample space to manipulate the specimen within, and there is minimal risk of contamination throughout the procedure. The authors recommend this approach for the treatment of patients with large gastric bezoars in whom laparotomy is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Min-Shen General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D001630:Bezoars / Q000601:surgery*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D013270:Stomach