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Case Reports
. 2011:2011:217570.
doi: 10.1155/2011/217570. Epub 2011 Jun 7.

Gastric trichobezoar causing intermittent small bowel obstruction: report of a case and review of the literature

Nicole G Coufal  1 , Akash P Kansagra, Jay Doucet, Jeanne Lee, Raul Coimbra, Vishal Bansal
Affiliations
Case Reports

Gastric trichobezoar causing intermittent small bowel obstruction: report of a case and review of the literature

Nicole G Coufal et al. Case Rep Med. 2011.

Abstract

We report the unusual case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with multiple episodes of small bowel obstruction. Initial exploratory lap-roscopy did not reveal an etiology of the obstruction. Subsequent upper endoscopy identified a non-obstructing gastric trichobezoar which could not be removed endoscopically but was not thought to be responsible for the small bowel obstruction given its location. One week postoperatively, the patient experienced recurrence of small bowel obstruction. Repeat endoscopy disclosed that the trichobezoar was no longer located in the stomach and upon repeat laparotomy was extracted from the mid-jejunum. In the following 8 months, the patient had no further episodes of small bowel obstruction. Consequently, gastric bezoars should be included in the differential diagnosis of recurrent small bowel obstruction.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT at initial presentation indicating intussusception of a short segment of small bowel.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Upper endoscopy following initial laparoscopy demonstrating a nonobstructing gastric trichobezoar.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Upper endoscopy at the time of symptom recurrence exhibiting absence of the previously present gastric trichobezoar.
Figure 4
Figure 4
CT at the time of symptom recurrence exhibiting dilated small bowel with mural stratification.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Large trichobezoar removed via laparotomy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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