title: Resolution of a phytobezoar with Aldoph's Meat Tenderizer.
abstract: A 58-year-old man went to his physician with complaints of midepigastric pain, flatulence, belching, and shortness of breath. During a physical examination, the patient was in no acute distress. The patient underwent an ultrasound examination, which revealed cholelithiasis, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which revealed chronic gallbladder disease, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed gastritis, a hiatal hernia, and a phytobezoar. To treat the bezoar, the patient was given Adolph's Meat Tenderizer 1 teaspoonful in 8 oz of water before each meal for 7 days. This product contains papain, a proteolytic enzyme, that is thought to cleave protein linkages within bezoars. The patient's symptoms resolved with no adverse events reported, and follow-up endoscopy revealed resolution of the phytobezoar. Although a few other agents are used to treat phytobezoars, little clinical data exist on their safety and effectiveness. Adolph's Meat Tenderizer appears to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with a phytobezoar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut 06102, USA.
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cloney
mesh_terms: D001630:Bezoars / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010206:Papain / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; C032508:meat tenderizer; D010206:Papain