Phytobezoar (Mangifera Indica Seeds) Induced Acute Intestinal Obstruction

Bezoars are partially digested conglomerates of fibres and foreign materials found in the gastro intestinal tract. Although they are common in lower vertebrates but there incidence in human being is rare. Bezoars in human beings can present with varied clinical signs and symptoms like colicky abdominal pain or intestinal obstruction or they may be silent and asymptomatic. In this case study we report a case of acute intestinal obstruction in a 35 years old female caused phytobezoar. The patient was diagnosed to have bezoar intra-operatively only in the terminal small bowel and stomach. On exploration she had obstruction at the level of terminal ileum and underwent enterotomy of terminal ileum and gastrostomy for removal of two pieces of phytobezoars comprising of semi digested mango seeds (Mangifera Indica). A detailed history of dietary habit was taken in the post-operative period. It revealed that she was very fond of eating mango and was regularly eating mango seeds along with the fruit which might be the cause of the phytobezoar. Phytobezoars are commonly found in the stomach and small intestine. The most common presentation of a bezoar is with intestinal obstruction. They can easily be managed by endoscopic procedures or surgical exploration at times.