Gastric bezoars: treatment and prevention
Rider, J.A.; Foresti-Lorente, R.F.; Garrido, J.; Puletti, E.J.; Rider, D.L.; King, A.H.; Bradley, S.P.
American Journal of Gastroenterology 79(5): 357-359
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9270 PMID: 6720657 Document Number: 225251
Gastric bezoars may occur in the normal stomach as a result of ingestion of various objects which do not pass through the pylorus. Most gastric bezoars occur as a complication of previous gastric surgery in which there is a loss of normal pyloric function, hypoperistalsis, and low gastric acidity. They may also occur as a complication of cimetidine therapy. Symptoms include epigastric fullness, regurgitation, nausea and vomiting, and epigastric pain. A simple treatment utilizing an ordinary Teledyne Water Pik jet stream through a gastroscope is described to break up a large phytobezoar. This method is probably the treatment of choice and should be used more widely.