We report a case of a 17-year-old institutionalised male with a medical history of fragile X syndrome, bilateral congenital glaucoma, cataracts and pica disorder. He was transferred to our paediatric intensive care unit owing to respiratory failure and hypotension. On transoesophageal echocardiogram, he presented left atrium compression. A CT of the thorax and mediastinum revealed an unknown he...

Pica is an abnormal eating behavior in which patients persistently eat non-food materials, which can lead to health consequences. A man presented complaining of several months of back pain and constipation without vomiting, abdominal pain, or distension. He experienced increasing social isolation and emotional lability over 5 years. Radiological findings confirmed the diagnosis, noting multiple...

We report a case of gastric bezoar-induced gastric outlet obstruction that was successfully treated with a combination of endoscopic injection and irrigation with Coca Cola. A 73-year-old diabetic woman had a history of perforated peptic ulcer and had received pyloroplasty more than 20 years previously. She had been ingesting Pho Pu Zi (Cordia dichotoma Forst. f.) as an appetizer for 1 month. S...

Objectives. (1) Report the case of a 5-year-old female with trichotillomania and trichophagia that suffered airway compromise during esophagogastroduodenoscopy for removal of a trichobezoar. (2) Provide management recommendations for an unusual foreign body causing extubation and partial airway obstruction. Methods. Case report of a rare situation of airway compromise caused by a trichobezoar. ...

BACKGROUND Rapunzel syndrome is a rare and unique form of trichobezoar, in which a cast of hairs is formed in the stomach with its 'tail' extending up to varying lengths into the small bowel. Almost all cases described in literature are of 'classic' and more common form of Rapunzel. Sometimes however, the tail of bezoar is broken into smaller fragments. There is not much literature available on...

A 4-year-old girl presented with 1-year history of fatigue, early satiety, intermittent vomiting, alopecia, pallor, and weight loss without changes in bowel habits or overt gastrointestinal bleeding. Examination revealed thin hair, pale conjunctivae, and mu-cous membranes. Tachycardia and a systolic flow murmur (grade II/VI) were present. Abdomen was nontender, distended, and tympanitic, with h...

BACKGROUND The formation of bile duct bezoars is a rare event. Its occurrence when there is no history of choledochoenteric anastomosis or duodenal diverticulum constitutes an extremely scarce finding. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case of obstructive jaundice, caused by the concretion of enteric material (bezoars) in the common bile duct following choledochoduodenal fistula development. Six...

To cite: Shenvi A. BMJ Case Reports Published online: [Please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2012007866 DESCRIPTION A 27 week gestation baby had a relatively uneventful initial neonatal course. At 3 weeks age, her feeds were increased to 200 ml/kg/day to optimise weight gain. She subsequently developed recurrent desaturations that were felt to be secondary to reflux. Gaviscon was added...