Persimmon bezoars: a successful combined therapy

Abstract

Background: Persimmon phytobezoar, although an infrequent entity, is not rare in some countries. Because of their particular features, management of diospyrobezoars is difficult. A number of surgical, endoscopic, and pharmacologic treatments have been proposed with variable success. This is a description of our experience with 10 patients with a new combination therapy.

Methods: Ten patients (7 men, 3 women; mean age 46.4 years) were treated with a new fragmentation technique consisting of a saw-like effect with a large polypectomy snare followed by administration of cellulase, cysteine, and metoclopramide.

Results: Resolution was achieved in 8 patients. Complications (intestinal obstruction) developed in 2 patients.

Conclusions: Our combined therapy is safe and highly efficacious but caution must be exercised because intestinal obstruction can occur if large fragments pass through the pylorus. A more extensive study is required to assess these clinical observations.