B Terminal ileum perforation secondary to an impacted phytobezoar : case report and review of the literature

Revista CES MEDICINA Volumen 23 No.2 Julio Diciembre / 2009 ezoars are concretions of undigested food particles, medications, milk formulas and hair. The most common presentation of a bezoar is in the form of a phytobezoar, which is caused by precipitation of undigested particles of vegetables and seeds. Small bowel obstruction is mainly caused by adhesions from previous surgery. Of all causes of intestinal obstruction, phytobezoars are responsible for only 0.4-4 % of all causes. They are mainly precipitated by previous strictures caused by surgery, partial gastrectomy, Crohn’s disease or intestinal tuberculosis. Symptoms can range from a vague abdominal discomfort to nausea, early satiety, vomiting, halitosis and weight loss. Perforation is a rare complication in an intact abdomen because patients seek early medical treatment before this occurs. We describe the case of an 85 year old male patient, who presented with perforation of the terminal ileum, caused by an impacted phytobezoar and caused a localised abscess that was successfully treated with surgery.